Pterocarpus macrocarpus

Pterocarpus macrocarpus, or Burma padauk,[2] is a tree native to the seasonal tropical forests of southeastern Asia: in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.[1][3][4] It has been naturalized in India and the Caribbean.[3]

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[1]
List
  • Lingoum cambodianum Pierre
  • Lingoum glaucinum Pierre
  • Lingoum gracile Pierre
  • Lingoum macrocarpum (Kurz) Kuntze
  • Lingoum oblongum Pierre
  • Lingoum parvifolium Pierre
  • Lingoum pedatum Pierre
  • Pterocarpus cambodianus (Pierre) Gagnep.
  • Pterocarpus cambodianus Pierre
  • Pterocarpus glaucinus Pierre
  • Pterocarpus gracilis Pierre
  • Pterocarpus parvifolius (Pierre) Craib
  • Pterocarpus parvifolius Pierre
  • Pterocarpus pedatus (Pierre) Gagnep.
  • Pterocarpus pedatus Pierre

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.[3][4]

The wood is durable and resistant to termites; it is important, used for furniture, construction timber, cart wheels, tool handles, and posts;[4] 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[5] of Myanmar (formerly Burma).

  • Padauk flowers during Thingyan
  • Padauk seeds
  • Displayed Padauk wood

References
  1. "Pterocarpus macrocarpus". International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS). Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  2. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Pterocarpus macrocarpus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  3. "Pterocarpus macrocarpus" (PDF). Danida Forest Seed Centre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  4. "Pterocarpus macrocarpus". International Institute of Tropical Forestry. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  5. Australia, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Parks. "Floral Emblems of the world - Australian Plant Information". www.anbg.gov.au. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
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