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Saman (Samanea saman Merr.)
Overview
Saman is a wide-canopied tree with a large symmetrical umbrella-shaped crown. It usually reaches a height of 15–25 m (49–82 ft) and a diameter of 30 m (98 ft). This species of flowering tree in the Fabaceae family is native to Central and South America but has been widely introduced across the tropics, especially South and Southeast Asia. Its branches have velvety and hairy bark. Large branches of the tree tend to break off, particularly during rainstorms. This can be hazardous as the tree is very commonly used for avenue plantation.
A rain tree leaf is pinnate made of 6–16 leaflets, each leaflet is shaped like a diamond 2–4 centimetres (0.79–1.57 in) long and 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) wide with a dull top surface and finely hairy beneath. The tree sheds its leaves for a while during dry periods. Its crown is big and can provide shade, but allows rain to fall through into the ground beneath it. The leaves fold in rainy weather and in the evenings, hence the names rain tree and five o'clock tree.
| Species | Saman (*Samanea saman Merr.) |
| Origin | Africa |
| Grade | AIC |
| Thickness | 18mm to 300mm |
| Width | 40mm to 300mm |
| Length | 4m to 8m |
| Drying | KD, AD |
| Prominent Uses |  |
Description & Distribution
Samanea saman is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, now in the Mimosoid clade and is native to Central and South America. It is often placed in the genus Samanea, which by yet other authors is subsumed in Albizia entirely.
Its range extends from Mexico south to Peru and Brazil, but it has been widely introduced to South and Southeast Asia, as well as the Pacific Islands, including Hawaii. It is a well-known tree, rivaled perhaps only by lebbeck and pink siris among its genus. It is well represented in many languages and has numerous local names in its native range; common English names include saman, rain tree and monkeypod.
Physical Characteristics
Crushing Strength: 40~50 MPa
Specific Gravity (at 12% MC): 0.45~0.55 g/cm3
Stability : Moderate
Static Bending Strength: 70~90 MPa
Durability and resistance
Dry Wood Borers : Susceptible
Fungi: Class 4–5 (perishable; lasts <5 years in ground contact)
Termites: Susceptible
Treatability: Moderate to good
Typical Applications
● Indoor furniture (tables, chairs)
● Carving (decorative art, sculptures)
● Veneer & plywood
● Turned objects (bowls, utensils)
● Shade tree (coffee/cacao plantations)
● Ornamental planting (parks, streets)
● Windbreaks & erosion control
● Fodder (pod pulp for livestock)
● Bee forage (nectar-rich flowers)
● Packing crates
● Low-cost construction (interior only)
● Nitrogen fixation (soil enrichment)
● Reforestation projects
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