‘DUKA’ is the popular name for the Tapirira marchandii tree, which is a member of the Anacardiaceae or cashew family, and a close relative of the mango tree.
It is recognizable by what looks like white splotches of paint on its dark green trunk. Its fruit is edible, and makes a beautiful wine.

This tree proliferates in Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. It is one of the lesser researched species of the Guyana rainforest, but is grouped commercially with the red cedar, baradan, dukalli, simarupa and silverballi.
It is used locally for making upholstered furniture framing and boxes, but is important for propping up sections of buildings under construction, a process referred to as ‘T-Shore’.
The Duka has the distinction of being generally regarded by the experts as a workhorse in the local building construction industry.