Pterocarpus macrocarpus

Burma padauk
Conservation status

Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this 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
Kurz
Synonyms
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

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

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.

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

References

  1. ^ Barstow, M. (2019). "Pterocarpus macrocarpus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T32308A2813424. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Pterocarpus macrocarpus". International Legume Database & Information Service (ILDIS). Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  3. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Pterocarpus macrocarpus". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b c "Pterocarpus macrocarpus" (PDF). Danida Forest Seed Centre. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b c "Pterocarpus macrocarpus". International Institute of Tropical Forestry. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  6. ^ Australia, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Parks. "Floral Emblems of the world - Australian Plant Information". www.anbg.gov.au. Retrieved 2016-04-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links