Burmese Rosewood
Pterocarpus indicus

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A medium sized evergreen tree. It grows to 27-30 m high and spreads to 4 m across. The stem is erect and stout. It branches. The trunk is 60-80 cm across. The leaves are compound with an odd number of leaflets. These are oval. The leaves are 20-45 cm long. The leaflets are 6-10 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. It can lose its leaves. The flowers are yellow and woolly. The sepals forming the outer ring of the flowers are brown. The flowers occur as many in a branched flower arrangement. The flowers are bell shaped. The fruit are round pods. These are 5 cm across. They can have 1 or 2 seeds but sometimes 4.

The timber is an attractive furniture timber.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to tropical Asia. It does best in rich, moist, well-drained soils. It needs a protected sunny position. It is damaged by drought and frost. It is often found in coastal swamps along tidal creeks. It usually grows in areas with an annual average temperature of 22-32°C. It can grow in soils with a pH of 4.0-7.4. It suits hardiness zones 11-12. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bougainville, Brunei, Cambodia, Caribbean, Carolines, Central Africa, Central America, China, Congo, Cuba, East Africa, East Timor, Fiji, Guam, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia (country/location of origin), Jamaica, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, North America, Pacific, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines (country/location of origin), Puerto Rico, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Yap

How it is used for food

The flowers and very young leaves are eaten.

It is only a minor food.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The seed need treatment to break the hard seed coat. Woody shoots take root easily. It can be grown by air-layering.

It is fast growing. All trees in one area flower at the same time for just a few days due to the drop in temperature with the first rains.

Its other names

Local names

Amboyna, Angsana, Asana, Bluwota, Chan daeng, Dandara, Danghuong an, Du bai yai, Giang huong, Gioc, Huynh ba rung, Indian padauk, Laga, Las, Ligi, Liki, Malay padauk, Nala, Nana, Nanara, Nanaara, Narra, New Guinea rosewood, Ofi ealy gas, Pan-padauk, Pau-rosa do timor, Pinati, Pra du, Pradu, Rigi, Ringi, Sana kapur, Sana kembang, Sana, Sena, Sonokembang, Udyo, Ujaw, Vangai, Yerravegisa

Synonyms

Lingoum indicum (Willd.) Kuntze; Lingoum wallichii (Wight & Arn.) Pierre; Pterocarpus echinatus; Pterocarpus carolinensis Kaneh.; Pterocarpus draco sensu auct.; Pterocarpus indica Willd.; and others