Common Name:

General Information

Millettia leucantha is a deciduous tree growing around 6 - 7 metres tall[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its good quality wood. This is one of 33 species named as being a suitable Hongmu (red wood) timber, used for producing high quality Chinese furniture following traditions from the Ming and Quing dynasty, which makes it a particularly valuable wood[].
Millettia leucantha has a large native range, though it is currently suspected that the population is declining slowly due to the loss of the species native habitat, driven by the expansion of agriculture. This rate of loss is not expected to exceed the boundaries for a threatened category under criterion A but more information to confirm this would
be valuable. As the species is so widespread, and is also found in protected areas, it is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern China (southern Yunnan), Thailand, Laos

Habitat

Savannah forests and dry lower hills; at elevations up to 600 metres[]. Sparse woodlands; at elevations around 1,100 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Millettia leucantha is native to a monsoonal tropical climate in Myanmar, where the mean annual rainfall is around 1,500mm, though it can be only half of this in some years. The mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 41.5°c, the mean minimum temperature of the coldest month is 10.7°c.
Species in this genus generally grow best in a sunny position in a fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The purplish-black wood is beautifully streaked, dense and hard with narrow, concentric bands of soft tissue. It is used for cross-pieces of harrows, and is worthy of attention for its beautiful grain and dark colour[]. It can be used for cabinet making and to produce high quality furniture[].

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have been dried for storage the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[].

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