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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Pithecellobium saman Trade Name Monkey Pod Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Pithecellobium saman Common Names Acacia, Aguango, Algarrobo, Algarrobo de pais, Algarrobo del pais, Almacigo blanco, Arbol de la lluvia, Arbre a pluie, Belati siris, Bois noir de Haiti, Bordao de velho, Campano, Carabali, Carabaly, Carreto, Carreto real, Cenicaro, Cenicero, Compano, Cow tamarind, Cow tamrind, Daugeni, Dormilon, French tamarind, Genizaro, Genizero, Giant tibet, Gipio, Gouannegoul, Gouannegowl, Guango, Huacamayo chico, Huacamayo-chico, Huacamayochico, Lara, Licorice, Locorice, Mazhamaram, Monkey Pod, Monkeypod, Nidaraganneru, Rain tree, Raintree, Sa, Samag, Samagu, Saman, Sanaguare, Sanguare, Tabaca, Thinbaw-kokko, Thungomonji, Thungumunji-maram, Urero, Zorra Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji [Polynesia], Fiji, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii [US], Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, New Caledonia Island [France], New Caledonia, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Puerto Rico, Suriname, Vanuatu, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boards, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Dressed boards, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Foundation posts, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Lumber, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rough boards/dimension stock, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Stakes, Stools, Tables , Tables, Toys, Trimming, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes, Wheel spokes, Wheels, Woodwork Environmental Profile Widespread, abundant and globally secure May be rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery Data source is Nature Conservancy Some long-term concern for the species Distribution Overview The genus Pithecellobium consists of shrubs and trees that are distributed in the tropical regions of the world. Monkey pod (P. saman) grow in forests and at the edge of forests, alongside roads and pathways in central and eastern Paraguay. It is also reported to grow from the Antilles to Paraguay, and is widely planted and naturalized throughout the West Indies, Mexico southward, and in other tropical regions including Africa where it grows in towns, villages and alon roadsides. It prefers well-drained fertile soils. An introduced species from South America, Monkey pod is also often planted as a shade tree in several parts of India, Burma, and the Andamans.\The genus Pithecellobium consist of shrubs and trees that are distributed in the tropical regions of the world. Monkey pod (S. saman) grow in at the edge of forests, alongside roads and pathways in central and eastern Paraguay. It is also reported to grow from the Antilles to Paraguay, and is widely planted and naturalized throughout the West Indies, Mexico southward, and in other tropical regions, including tropical Africa, where it grows in towns, villages and along roadsides. It prefers well-drained fertile soils. An introduced species from South America, Monkey pod is also often planted as a shade tree in several parts of India, Burma, and the Andamans. \ Heartwood Color Brown Red Pale brown Dark brown Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Golden-Brown to dark brown Red Pale red to pink Wood vessels contain shiny, brown deposits. Sapwood Color White White to yellow Well defined Wide Cream Clearly distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Figure Interlocked Other (figure) Closed Even Wavy Stripe (figure) Straight Interlocked Other figure Wavy, often interlocked Wavy Striped figure Texture Fine Medium Resinous and oily Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Fine to medium Luster Medium High Lustrous Medium Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Very durable Varied resistance to biodegradation Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack by termites Prone to blue stain Durable under water Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Non durable Moderately resistant Moderately durable Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi Heartwood is fairly resistant to termites and other insects Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Sawdust can cause eye irritation Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Moderate twist/warp Slight surface checking No surface checking Moderate spring/bow Slight twist/warp Slight cupping Severe spring/bow Minute end-checks may develop during drying Slight end splitting Severe twisting/warping No end splitting Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Moderately Difficult to Difficult Dries easily, with very little degrade Moderate Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good It is also a favorite shade tree Well known Monkey pod of commerce, favored for wooden bowls, etc. Blunting Effect Little Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Moderately easy Good (75+ pieces out of 100 will yield good to excellent results) Easy Material containing interlocked grain may develop torn and woolly surfaces Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Saws well Material containing interlocked grain may develop torn an wooly surfaces Easy to saw Difficult to saw Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortises well in general, except in material with interlocked grain Finishes well Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good moulding properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Tears and wooly surfaces may develop in planing operations of interlocked grain materials Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Fairly resistant to impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Good Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to machine Variable qualities Difficult to machine Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Generally good routing qualities Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding properties Good sanding finish Easy to sand Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turned surfaces tend to be wooly because of interlocked grain Easier to turn Poor results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Diifficult to veneer Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Easy to cut Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Excellent polishing characteristics Varnishing Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Radial = very small Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage Volumetric = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low High in density Shrinkage, Tangential = small Resists wearing and marring Max. crushing strength = low Hardness = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Resists denting and marring