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Padouk (Pterocarpus soyauxii)
Overview
Padouk, also known as padauk, refers to several species of tropical hardwood trees mainly from the genus Pterocarpus, with the most common being Pterocarpus soyauxii and Pterocarpus macrocarpus. Pterocarpus is a pantropical tree genus in the Fabaceae family. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae, and was recently assigned to the informal monophyletic Pterocarpus clade within the Dalbergieae. Most species of Pterocarpus yield valuable timber traded as padauk (or padouk), usually pronounced /pəˈduːk/ or /ˈpædˌoʊk/; other common names are mukwa or narra.
The west African species may be traded as African rosewood. P. santalinus also yields the most precious red sandalwood in China known as Zitan. The wood from the narra tree (P. indicus) and the Burmese padauk tree (P. macrocarpus) is marketed as amboyna when it has grown in the burl form. The scientific name is Latinized Ancient Greek and means "wing fruit", referring to the unusual shape of the seed pods in this genus.
| Species | Padouk (*Pterocarpus soyauxii) |
| Origin | Africa |
| Grade | AIC |
| Thickness | 18mm to 300mm |
| Width | 40mm to 300mm |
| Length | 4m to 8m |
| Drying | KD, AD |
| Prominent Uses |  |
Description & Distribution
These trees are renowned for their vibrant reddish-orange to deep redwood coloration, making their wood highly prized for furniture, flooring, and musical instruments. Native to West Africa, particularly in countries like Ghana, Nigeria, and Ivory Coast, as well as parts of Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Myanmar, padouk trees thrive in tropical and subtropical climates. The wood's striking appearance and durability have made it a popular choice globally, and it is often harvested sustainably to support conservation efforts.
Physical Characteristics
Crushing Strength: 65 MPa (+/- 8)
Specific Gravity (at 12% MC): 0.79 g/cm3 (+/- 0.09)
Stability : Stable
Static Bending Strength: 116 MPa ( +/- 24)
Durability and resistance
Dry Wood Borers : Class D - Durable
Fungi: Class 1 - Very durable
Termites: Class D - Durable
Treatability: Class 2 - Moderately permeable
Typical Applications
● Hydraulic works (seawater)
● Flooring
● Cabinetwork (high class furniture)
● Bridges (Parts in contact with water or ground)
● Vehicle or container flooring
● Ship building (ribs)
● Turned goods
● Exterior joinery
● Interior joinery
● Industrial or heavy flooring
● Sliced veneer
● Sleepers
● Bridges (Parts not in contact with water or ground)
● Heavy carpentry
● Ship building (planking and deck)
● Seats
● Stairs (inside)
● Sculpture
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