Pterocarpus macrocarpus, or Burma padauk,[3] is a tree native to the seasonal tropical forests of southeastern Asia: in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.[2][4][5] It has been naturalized in India and the Caribbean.[4]
| Burma padauk | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Pterocarpus |
| Species: | P. macrocarpus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pterocarpus macrocarpus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
List
| |
Description
Pterocarpus macrocarpus is a medium-sized tree growing to 10–30 m (rarely to 39 m) tall, with a trunk up to 1.7 m diameter; it is deciduous in the dry season. The bark is flaky, grey-brown; if cut, it secretes a red gum. The leaves are 200–350 mm long, pinnate, with 9–11 leaflets. The flowers are yellow, produced in racemes 50–90 mm long. The fruit is a pod surrounded by a round wing 45–70 mm diameter, containing two or three seeds.[4][5]
The wood is durable and resistant to termites; it is important, used for furniture, construction timber, cart wheels, tool handles, and posts;[5] though not a true rosewood it is sometimes traded as such. The seasonal padauk flowers bloom annually around Thingyan (April) and is considered one of the national symbols[6] of Myanmar (formerly Burma).
Padauk flowers during Thingyan
Padauk seeds
Displayed Padauk wood
References
External links
Media related to Pterocarpus macrocarpus at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Pterocarpus macrocarpus at Wikispecies
