SCIENTIFIC NAME
Pterocarpus soyauxii. Derivation: The genus name ptero is Greek meaning wing and aapus meaning fruit, which refers to the fleshy fruit stalks. The specific epithet is in honor of Hermann Soyaux (b. 1852), the leader of a botanical expedition in Africa (1873 to 1876).

FAMILY
Fabaceae or Leguminosae, the legume family; (Papilianaceae) the pea or pulse group.

OTHER NAMES:
comwood, barwood, corail, yomo, vermilion, bois rouge, African coral wood, muenge.

DISTRIBUTION
This species occurs in Gabon, Congo (formerly Zaire), Cameroon, Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.

THE TREE
With a straight and well shaped trunk, African padauk reaches a height of 70 to 100 feet with a breast height diameter of 50 inches. It yields a bright red dye, which is used by African natives to make a cosmetic that they smear on their bodies for religious festivals.

THE TIMBER
The heartwood is bright orange-red to blood red, and the sapwood is grayish-white. The odor of freshly cut wood is faintly aromatic, and the luster is medium to high. Average reported specific gravity ranges from 0.55 to 0.67 (ovendry weight/green volume), equivalent to an air-dried weight of 42 to 52 pef. The grain is irregular to wavy. It has a moderately coarse texture with large pores. This wood possesses good strength, is flexible, shock resistant and is resistant to compression and dents.

SEASONING
African padauk seasons fairly slowly with minimal degrade. Average reported shrinkage values (green to ovendry) are 3.3% radial, 5.2% tangential and 7.6% volumetric. It is dimensionally stable in use.

DURABILITY
African padauk timber is classified as very durable.

WORKABILITY
The wood saws and planes easily to a very smooth surface. It glues well and takes an excellent finish.

USES
Before the use of aniline dyes, the dye from African padauk was in demand by the dyeing industry. Currently the timber is used by the veneer and lumber trades. It is also used to a limited extent for fancy turnery and for high-quality tool handles. It is an excellent flooring timber, suitable for heavy traffic in public buildings. The bulk of the exported material is manufactured into veneer, which is used in furniture, cabinets, inlay, novelties and decorative panels. The red color effects that are found in the timber are well adapted for making panels of Oriental design.

SUPPLIES
African padauk veneer and lumber are available but the price is high.

Information from A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Second Edition, James H. Flynn, Jr. and Charles D. Holder, Editors. Forest Products Society, Madison, Wisconsin, 2001.

Photographs from MDArtworks