Common Name: Burma Padauk

General Information

Pterocarpus macrocarpus is a large deciduous tree, usually growing 17 - 23 metres tall, but exceptionally reaching 30 metres[]. The bole is usually straight and cylindrical, though sometimes irregular, with large and high buttresses[, ]. It can be unbranched for the first 7.5 metres and is about 60 - 90cm in diameter[]. When grown in the open, the tree tends to have a short bole and a spreading crown[].
This is a major timber species in southeast Asia, where large quantities are exported each year. It is one of the three main species used as Hongmu (red wood) timber, used for producing high quality Chinese furniture following traditions from the Ming and Quing dynasty[]. The tree is grown as a pioneer species in reforestation projects in Thailand[].
Most timber is harvested from natural forests and the species is suffering both from overexploitation and also loss of habitat through agricultural expansion[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia.

Habitat

Moist to dry deciduous forests, often associated with Tectonia grandis[]. Open, semi-deciduous or deciduous Dipterocarp forest, on well-drained, light-textured soils, but with shallow depth and poor in humus[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	20.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of mainly lowland tropical areas, where it ca be found at elevations up to 850 metres[]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature falls within the range 24 - 34°c, but can tolerate 8 - 44°c[]. Plants are not tolerant of frost[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall of 1,500 - 2,500mm,tolerating 875 - 5,000mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position[, ]. Requires a well-drained soil, preferring a sandy loam[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, but tolerates 5 - 7.5[]. Succeeds in neutral to strongly acid soils[].
Young plants establish fairly well - seedlings in plantations grew from 0.6 to 1.2 metres in their first year and added another 1.2 - 2.1 metres in their second[]. In Puerto Rico, 30 planted trees in a small forest plantation that was situated on clay soil over porous limestone averaged 1.3 metres in height 14 months after planting out[].
Flowering and fruiting usually begins in open-grown trees between 5 and 10 years of age[].
Closely related to P. Indicus[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark and the root are used as a remedy for bladder ailments and diarrhoea[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is planted as a pioneer species in northern Thailand in reforestation projects to restore native woodland - it is planted in degraded woodland and open areas in a mix with various other species that all have the ability to grow fast; produce dense, weed-suppressing crowns; and attract seed-dispersing wildlife, particularly birds and bats[].

Other Uses

A resin obtained from the plant can be used as a red dye[].

The heartwood is bright yellowish red to dark brick red, streaked with darker lines, lustrous when freshly cut but becoming a dull but attractive golden brown on exposure; the sapwood is greyish in a narrow band[]. The texture is moderately coarse; the grain interlocked; it has a faint spicy odour[]. The wood is hard, dense, relatively heavy, very durable and also resistant to termite attack[, , , ]. The sapwood is liable to attack by powder-post beetles[]. The wood is rather difficult to saw, especially when dry, and also difficult to work with handtools, it turns well, dresses to a smooth finish, glues satisfactorily[]. The wood is used for decorative flooring, furniture, cabinetwork, tool handles, billiard tables, inlay work etc[, ].

Propagation

Seed - usually sown whilst still in the seedpod[]. It can be sown without pre-treatment[], but pre-soaking for 12 - 24 hours in warm water at a temperature of about 35 - 40°c can speed up the germination process[]. Sow the seed in nursery seed beds or containers[]. Germination commences after about 11 days, with about 64% of the seed germinating[]. If the seeds are extracted from the pods first (a very labour intensive operation), then germination begins after 5 days with about 70% of seeds germinating[]. Pot up the seedlings when the first true leaves develop[]. Seedlings can be planted out into their permanent positions when about 1 year old and around 30cm tall[].
Seeds can be stored for several years. Indeed, seeds from pods that had lain on the ground for 1 year germinated better than new pods collected from the tree[].

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