Pterocarpus indicus

Pterocarpus indicus
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 2.3) Scientific classificationKingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Dalbergieae
Genus: Pterocarpus
Species: P. indicus

Binomial name Pterocarpus indicus
Willd.

Pterocarpus indicus (Narra, Pashu Padauk, Malay Paduak) is a species of Pterocarpus native to southeastern Asia, northern Australasia, and the western Pacific Ocean islands, in Cambodia, southernmost China, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.[1] Other names include Narra (Philippines), Sonokembang (Indonesia), Angsana or Sena (Malaysia and Singapore), Tnug (Cambodia).

1 Description
2 Uses
- 2.1 Symbolism
3 References

Description

It is a large deciduous tree growing to 30–40 m tall, with a trunk up to 2 m diameter. The leaves are 12–22 cm long, pinnate, with 5–11 leaflets. The flowers are produced in panicles 6–13 cm long containing a few to numerous flowers; flowering is from February to May in the Philippines, Borneo and the Malay peninsula. They are fragrant and have yellow or orange-yellow petals. The fruit is a semiorbicular pod 2–3 cm diameter, surrounded by a flat 4–6 cm diameter membranaceous wing which aids dispersal. It contains one or two seeds, and does not split open at maturity; it ripens within 4-6 months, and becomes brown when dry. The central part of the pod can be smooth (f. indica), bristly (f. echinatus (Pers.) Rojo) or intermediate.[2][3]

Most Pterocarpus species prefer seasonal weather but P. indicus prefer rainforests.

Note: Pterocarpus macrocarpus, a similar species native to Burma and in the same genus as P. indicus, is referred to as "Rosewood" throughout South East Asia. P. macrocarpus, is usually harder than P. indicus. When in burl form both are referred to as Amboyna Burl.

Uses

Veneer with a shell-like grain

The hardwood, which is reddish, is termite resistant and rose-scented. The wood known in Indonesia as amboyna is the burl of the tree, named after Ambon, where much of this material was originally found. Often amboyna is finely sliced to produce an extremely decorative veneer, used for decoration and in making of furniture and keys on a marimba. The flower is used as a honey source while leaf infusions are used as shampoos. Both flowers and leaves were said to be eaten. The tree is recommended as an ornamental tree for avenues and is sometimes planted in Puerto Rico for as a shade and ornament. It is also a source of kino or resin. In folk medicine, it is used to combat tumors. This property might be due to an acidic polypeptide found in its leaves that inhibited growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells by disruption of cell and nuclear membranes. It is also known as a diuretic in Europe during the 16th and 18th centuries. Its reputation may be due to its wood infusions, which are fluorescent.

Symbolism

It is the national tree of the Philippines, as well as the provincial tree of Chonburi and Phuket in Thailand.

References

^ International Legume Database & Information Service: Pterocarpus indicus
^ Danida Seed Leaflet: Pterocarpus indicus (pdf file)
^ Purdue University New Crops: Pterocarpus indicus

World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). Pterocarpus indicus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1d v2.3)
PIER species info: Pterocarpus indicus