Machaerium scleroxylon

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Machaerium scleroxylon
Machaerium scleroxylon inflorescencia 1.jpg
Flowers and leaves
Machaerium scleroxylon.jpg
Habit
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Machaerium
Species:
M. scleroxylon
Binomial name
Machaerium scleroxylon
Tul.

Machaerium scleroxylon is a species of tree in the family Fabaceae Common names for the species include: pau ferro, morado, caviuna, Bolivian rosewood, and Santos rosewood. [2] [3] The wood is used as an alternative species to genuine rosewoods belonging to the genus Dalbergia.

Contents

Machaerium scleroxylon is a deciduous tree characterized by a spiny nature and a compact, vase-shaped crown, and has the potential to reach heights of 15 to 25 m. The trunk, featuring grooves and often branching at a low level, can attain a diameter of 50 to 90 cm. The tree is sought after for its appealing timber, leading to frequent wild harvesting. It also serves as a valuable pioneer species in woodland restoration and is commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes, prized for its attractive bark and delicate leaves. The species holds particular interest for street planting due to the spines on young trunks acting as a deterrent against vandalism. It thrives in semideciduous forests, adapting to both dense primary formations and more open, secondary growth areas, while it shows a preference for clayey, fertile soils with good drainage. [4]

Uses

Its wood has a similar feel and similar tonal attributes to genuine rosewoods, but is near 1000 points softer on the Janka hardness scale on average or more than all of the commonly traded species of rosewood except for Sisso and Amazonian rosewood (Dalbergia spruceana). It also ranks lower in density of 5-10 lbs per cubic foot compared to common rosewoods (roughly 54 lbs/cf compared to 60-66 lbs/cf), though it does have a negligibly higher crushing strength and modulus of rupture than a few species of rosewood. Pau ferro is lighter colored having more tans and light browns contrasting darker areas of its figure. [5] The wood may also be used for flooring, fancy furniture, and handgun grips.

Sample of Santos rosewood 9489b-Machaerium scleroxylon (Caviuna).jpg
Sample of Santos rosewood

In guitar making, pau ferro is mainly used for fingerboards and bridges. Some luthiers also use it for the back and sides of acoustic guitars.

Following the expansion of CITES regulations to restrict trade on all species of rosewood in 2017, Fender began using pau ferro on models which had previously featured rosewood fretboards. Although the restrictions were lifted in 2019, pau ferro fretboards remained in place across much of the manufacturer's product range, in particular on Mexican-made instruments. [6]

Allergy information

Pau ferro, used as a rosewood substitute, is a strong sensitizer capable of causing acute outbreaks of allergic and irritant dermatitis in workers not previously exposed to it. This, however, has not prevented furniture factories from using the product. The allergen it contains, is (R)-3,4-dimethoxydalbergion, a strong skin sensitizer. [7]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Dalbergia sissoo</i> Species of deciduous tree

Dalbergia sissoo, known commonly as North Indian rosewood or shisham, is a fast-growing, hardy, deciduous rosewood tree native to the Indian subcontinent and southern Iran. D. sissoo is a large, crooked tree with long, leathery leaves and whitish or pink flowers.

<i>Dalbergia cochinchinensis</i> Species of legume

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<i>Dalbergia nigra</i> Species of legume

Dalbergia nigra, commonly known as the Bahia rosewood, jacarandá-da-Bahia, Brazilian rosewood, Rio rosewood, jacarandá-do-brasil, pianowood, caviúna, graúna, jacarandá-una or obuina is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae.

<i>Dalbergia odorifera</i> Species of legume

Dalbergia odorifera, fragrant rosewood or Chinese rosewood, is a species of true rosewood in the genus Dalbergia. It is a small or medium-sized tree, 10–15 metres (33–49 ft) tall. It is endemic to China and occurs in Fujian, Hainan, Zhejiang, and Guangdong.

<i>Dalbergia oliveri</i> Species of legume

Dalbergia oliveri is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae which grows in tree form to 15 – 30 meters in height. The fruit is a green pod containing one to two seeds which turn brown to black when ripe. It is threatened by habitat loss and over-harvesting for its valuable red "rosewood" timber.

<i>Fraxinus caroliniana</i> Species of ash

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<i>Dalbergia retusa</i> Species of legume

Dalbergia retusa is a plant species in the genus Dalbergia found in Pacific regions of Central America, ranging from Panama to southwestern Mexico. It produces the cocobolo wood. It is a fair-sized tree, reported to reach 20–25 m in height. This is probably the species contributing most of the wood in the trade. Because of the wood's great beauty and high value, the trees yielding this wood have been heavily exploited and are now rare outside national parks, reserves, and plantations.

<i>Dalbergia latifolia</i> Species of legume

Dalbergia latifolia is a premier timber species, also known as the Indian rosewood. It is native to low-elevation tropical monsoon forests of south east India. Some common names in English include rosewood, Bombay blackwood, roseta rosewood, East Indian rosewood, reddish-brown rosewood, Indian palisandre, and Java palisandre. Its Indian common names are beete, and satisal. The tree grows to 40 metres (130 ft) in height and is evergreen, but locally deciduous in drier subpopulations.

Pau ferro is a common name for several trees and may refer to:

Dalbergia stevensonii, also called Honduras rosewood, is a Central American tree species in the legume family. It grows in broadleaf evergreen swamp forests in southern Belize and adjacent Guatemala and Mexico. The wood is highly valuable, which has led to population loss from illegal logging.

References

  1. Groom, A. (2012). "Machaerium scleroxylon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2012: e.T19892527A20102957. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T19892527A20102957.en . Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  2. "Pau Ferro". The Wood Database (Hardwood). 7 January 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  3. "Commercial timbers - Machaerium scleroxylon Tul. (Santos Palisander, morado)". DELTA. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  4. "Machaerium scleroxylon". Useful Tropical Plants. 2024-02-12. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  5. "? PAU FERRO Wood Guide: Indian Rosewood Alternative 2022". 21 May 2019.
  6. "Fender CITES Changes - Rosewood vs. Pau Ferro Fretboards" . Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  7. Department of Dermatology, Gentofte Hospital, Hellerup, Denmark