Common Name(s): Goncalo Alves, Tigerwood, Jobillo
Scientific Name: Astronium graveolens (syn. A. fraxinifolium)
Distribution: From Mexico southward to Brazil
Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 62 lbs/ft3 (995 kg/m3)
Basic Specific Gravity: .80
Hardness: 2,250 lbf (10,000 N)
Rupture Strength: 18,400 lbf/in2 (126,920 kPa)
Elastic Strength: 2,404,000 lbf/in2 (16,580 MPa)
Crushing Strength: 10,710 lbf/in2 (73.9 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 4.0%, Tangential: 7.6%, Volumetric: 10.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.9


Color/Appearance:
 Heartwood is typically a medium reddish brown with irregularly spaced streaks of dark brown to black. Color tends to darken with age.
Grain/Pore:
Grain can be straight, but is usually wavy or interlocked. Goncalo Alves has a fine, uniform texture with very small pores.
Endgrain:
Diffuse-porous; medium pores in no specific arrangement; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; tyloses and other heartwood deposits common; growth rings indistinct; rays visible without lens; parenchyma vasicentric.
Durability:
Goncalo Alves has excellent weathering properties, and is rated as very durable regarding decay resistance.
Workability:
Goncalo Alves is generally not too difficult to work, despite its high density. Figured pieces with irregular grain can pose a challenge in planing and machining operations. Goncalo Alves can also have a moderate blunting effect on cutters. The wood is very resistant to moisture absorption, which can make it difficult to glue. Goncalo Alves turns and finishes well.
Scent:
There is no characteristic odor associated with this wood species.
Safety:
Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Goncalo Alves has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye and skin irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Price/Availability:
 Should be moderately priced for an import, likely to be in the neighborhood of other mid-range Latin American imports such as Chechen or Purpleheart.
Comments:
 Goncalo Alves is commonly referred to as “Tigerwood” or “Brazilian Tigerwood” among flooring dealers. The wood has superb stiffness, strength, hardness, and durability. However, density and other mechanical properties can vary widely depending on the growing site and source region. The name “Jobillo” is sometimes used to refer to higher grades of Goncalo Alves among woodturners.
Some common uses of Goncalo Alves include: flooring, veneers, furniture, cabinetry, carving, turned objects, and other small wood specialty objects such as: pool cues, archery bows, knife handles, etc.