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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 Certified Source 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Pterocarpus indicus Trade Name NarraAndaman padauk Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Pterocarpus indicus Common Names Amboyna, Andaman padauk, Andaman redwood, Angsama, Angsana, Chalanga-da, East Indian mahogany, Indian redwood, Liki, Nara, Narra, Narravitail, New Guinea rosewood, Nonalu, Padauk, Papua New Guniea rosewood, Red narra, Ringii, Rosewood, Sena, Solomons padauk, Sonokembang, Vermilion wood, Warave, Yaya sa, Yellow narra Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Casing, Ceiling, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Fixtures, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Novelties, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Sounding boards, Tables, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Rare Questionable Status unknown in parts of its range Status unknown due to inadequate data Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within parts of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview This species is one of about 60 in the Pterocarpus genus, which consists of small to large trees distributed throughout the tropics. Pterocarpus indicus is indigenous to Malaysia, but is also found in the Philippines, Borneo, Burma, New Guinea, and the Malay Archipelago. It is also often planted as an ornamental and a shade tree in several regions, including India, along roadsides, and in gardens because of its flowers and handsome foliagePterocarpus is a genus of over 60 species consisting of small and large trees that are distributed throughout the tropical regions of the world. Pterocarpus dalbergioides is confined to and common in the deciduous and semi-deciduous forests of the Andaman Islands. It is described as the principal timber tree on the islands and is usually found growing on or near riverbanks. also reported to cultivated on a small scale, mostly in gardens, in mainland India. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pink Reddish brown Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Dark brown Large color variation Dark brown Yellow Rich crimson hue ranging from red to brown Reddish brown with dark streaks after aging Red - blood Purple Pale red to pink Light red Golden brown Darkens upon exposure Dark streaks often Brown - yellowish Sapwood Color Yellow Brown White White to yellow Well defined White/Straw Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Variable (figure) Wavy Rippled (figure) Straight Growth rings (figure) Closed Ribbon (figure) Even Irregular Mottled (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Striped figure Wavy Variable figure Rippled figure Straight Ribbon figure Clear growth rings (figure) Variable figure Twisted curls create pronounced figure Quartersawn surfaces show ribbon figure Occasionally wavy Mottled figure Irregular Interlocked Flat sawn surfaces produce a flame figure Distinct and very fine figure The wood is often marked with little twisted curls and knots which give a pronounced fine figure. Flat sawn surfaces are reported to have a flame figure, and quartersawn surfaces usually exhibit a ribbon figure. Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium to coarse Moderately fine to moderately coarse and uneven Medium to very coarse Fine to medium Luster Medium High Lustrous Dull Slightly lustrous High Natural Durability Moderately durable Durable Very durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Good weathering properties Sapwood vulnerable to pinhole borer attack Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Naturally resistant Heartwood resistant to decay Heartwood is fairly resistant to termites and other insects Heartwood is fairly resistant to termites and other insects Durable Resistant woods may last between 15 nd 25 years in contact with the ground and without any chemical protection. Odor No distinctive taste Greem wood is faintly aromatic Fragrant odor Toxicity Dermatitic effects Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Dry at a slow speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 T6 - D4 (4/4) US T3 - D3 (8/4) US Schedule F - United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting No end splitting Slight end splitting No twisting or warping Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Ease of Drying Slowly Easy Dries with very little or no degrade Dries with little degrade especially if allowed to dry on stump before felling Air-dries rather well Air dries rapidly under cover Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Product Sources Supplies of Andaman padauk are rather limited, and when available, it is often priced in the costly range. Certified Source Certified Source Substitutes Burma padauk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as poor Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Slight Medium effect Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Good boring qualities Bores smoothly Carving Fair to Good Results Very easy to impregnate with preservatives Cutting Resistance Generally good sawing characteristics Excellent surfaces Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Gluing Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Good gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulds easily with ordinary tools Interlocked grain, and layers of hard and soft tissue, make moulding difficult Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Stable Retain shape after manufacture Medium Dimensionally stable after seasoning Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Holds nails well Good nailing properties Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Difficult to plane Torn grain common in quartersawn material Reduction of cutting angle recommended