Pterocarpus macrocarpus

Pterocarpus macrocarpus
Burma padauk (Pterocarpus macrocarpus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Dalbergieae
Genus: Pterocarpus
Species: P. macrocarpus
Binomial name
Pterocarpus macrocarpus
Kurz
Synonyms
  • Lingoum macrocarpum (Kurz) O.Ktze.
  • Lingoum cambodianum Pierre
  • Lingoum glaucinum Pierre
  • Lingoum gracile Pierre
  • Lingoum oblongum Pierre
  • Lingoum parvifolium Pierre
  • Lingoum pedatum Pierre
  • Pterocarpus cambodianus Pierre var. calcicolus Craib
Padauk flowers during Thingyan

Pterocarpus macrocarpus, the Burma padauk,[1] is a species of Pterocarpus native to southeastern Asia in northeastern India, Burma, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.[2][3][4]

It 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 dry season-deciduous. The bark is flaky, grey-brown; if cut, it secretes a red gum. The leaves are 20–35 cm long, pinnate, with 9–11 leaflets. The flowers are yellow, produced in racemes 5–9 cm long. The fruit is a pod surrounded by a round wing 4.5–7 cm 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 the Myanmar new year (second week of April) and is considered one of the national symbols[5] of Myanmar (formerly Burma).

References

  1. "Pterocarpus macrocarpus". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  2. International Legume Database & Information Service: Pterocarpus macrocarpus
  3. 1 2 Danida Seed Leaflet: Pterocarpus macrocarpus (pdf file)
  4. 1 2 3 International Institute of Tropical Forestry: Pterocarpus macrocarpus (pdf file)
  5. Australia, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Parks. "Floral Emblems of the world - Australian Plant Information". www.anbg.gov.au. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
Padauk seeds
Padauk seeds
ပိတောက်စေ့
Flowered padauk
ပိတောက်ပန်း
This is not a true Burmese Padauk. Compare to the picture above, which shows the correct tree and flowers.
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