| Imbuia | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: | Ocotea |
| Species: | O. porosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Ocotea porosa (Nees & Martius) Barroso |
|
| Synonyms | |
Ocotea porosa is a species of plant in the Lauraceae family, often placed in the related genus Phoebe. Common names (with variant spellings) include embuia (embúia), embuya, imbuia (imbúia), imbuya, canela-imbuia, and "Brazilian walnut" (it is not closely related to walnuts).
The tree is found in the subtropical montane Araucaria angustifolia rain forests of southern Brazil, mostly in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, and in smaller numbers in São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul. The species may also occur in adjacent Argentina and/or Paraguay.
The trees typically reach 40 meters in height and 1.8 meters in trunk diameter.[1] The tree is a major commercial species in Brazil because of the value of its wood for high-end furniture, mostly as decorative veneers, and as flooring[2]
The tree is a popular horticultural tree in subtropical regions of the world. In its native habitat it is a threatened species.