Pterocarpus indicus

Last updated

Pterocarpus indicus
Pterocarpus indicus Blanco1.205.png
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: Pterocarpus
Species:
P. indicus
Binomial name
Pterocarpus indicus
Synonyms [2]
List
    • Echinodiscus echinatusMiq.
    • Lingoum echinatum(Pers.) Kuntze
    • Lingoum indicum(Willd.) Kuntze
    • Lingoum rubrumRumph.
    • Lingoum saxatileRumph.
    • Lingoum wallichiiPierre
    • Pterocarpus blancoiMerr.
    • Pterocarpus carolinensisKaneh.
    • Pterocarpus echinataPers.
    • Pterocarpus indicaWilld. [Spelling variant]
    • Pterocarpus klemmeiMerr.
    • Pterocarpus obtusatusMiq.
    • Pterocarpus pallidusBlanco
    • Pterocarpus papuanaF. Muell.
    • Pterocarpus papuanusF.Muell.
    • Pterocarpus pubescensMerr.
    • Pterocarpus vidalianusRolfe
    • Pterocarpus wallichiiWight & Arn.
    • Pterocarpus zollingeriMiq.

Pterocarpus indicus (commonly known as Amboyna wood, Malay padauk, Papua New Guinea rosewood, Philippine mahogany, Andaman redwood, Burmese rosewood, narra [3] (from Tagalog [4] ) and asana in the Philippines, angsana, or Pashu padauk) is a species of Pterocarpus native to southeastern Asia, northern Australasia, and the western Pacific Ocean islands, in Cambodia, southernmost China, East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, [5] Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands, the Solomon Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. [6]

Contents

Pterocarpus indicus was one of two species (the other being Eysenhardtia polystachya ) used as a source for the 16th- to 18th-century traditional diuretic known as lignum nephriticum . [7]

Many populations of Pterocarpus indicus are seriously threatened. It is extinct in Vietnam and possibly in Sri Lanka and Peninsular Malaysia. [1] It was declared the national tree of the Philippines in 1934 by Governor-General Frank Murphy of the Insular Government of the Philippine Islands through Proclamation No. 652. [8]

Description

A mature specimen in Hong Kong Pterocarpus indicus.jpg
A mature specimen in Hong Kong
Bark of Pterocarpus indicus in Kowloon, Hong Kong Bark of Pterocarpus indicus.jpg
Bark of Pterocarpus indicus in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Flower stalk arrangement of Pterocarpus indicus in Kinmen, Fuchien Province, Republic of China Yin Du Zi Tan Pterocarpus indicus 20200807191221 09.jpg
Flower stalk arrangement of Pterocarpus indicus in Kinmen, Fuchien Province, Republic of China

It is a large deciduous tree growing to 30–40 m tall, with a trunk up to 2 m diameter. The leaves are 12–22 cm long, pinnate, with 5–11 leaflets, the girth is 12–34 m wide. Most Pterocarpus species prefer seasonal weather but P. indicus prefer rainforests.

The flowers are produced in panicles 6–13 cm long containing a few to numerous flowers; flowering is from February to May in the Philippines, Borneo and the Malay peninsula. They are slightly fragrant and have yellow or orange-yellow petals. The fruit is a semiorbicular pod 2–3 cm diameter, surrounded by a flat 4–6 cm diameter membranaceous wing (wing-like structure) which aids dispersal by the wind. It contains one or two seeds, and does not split open at maturity; it ripens within 4–6 years, and becomes purple when dry. The central part of the pod can be smooth (f. indica), bristly (f. echinatus (Pers.) Rojo) or intermediate. [9] [10]

Note: Pterocarpus macrocarpus , a similar species native to Burma, is referred to as "Rosewood" throughout South East Asia. P. macrocarpus is usually harder than P. indicus. When in burl form both are referred to as Amboyna Burl.

Uses

The hardwood, which is purplish, is termite-resistant and rose-scented. The wood known in Indonesia as amboyna is the burl of the tree, named after Ambon, where much of this material was originally found. Often amboyna is finely sliced to produce an extremely decorative veneer, used for decoration and in making of furniture and keys on a marimba.

It is a premium timber species suitable for high grade furniture, lumber and plywood for light construction purposes. It is also used for cartwheels, wood carving and musical instruments. [11]

The flower is used as a honey source while leaf infusions are used as shampoos. Both flowers and leaves were said to be eaten. The leaves are supposedly good for waxing and polishing brass and copper. It is also a source of kino or resin. [10]

The leaves of narra are also used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of health problems. Narra leaves contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are antioxidants that provide health benefits to humans, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic benefits. Flavonoids in narra leaves may be capable of preventing damage to your kidneys. [12]

In folk medicine, it is used to combat tumors. [10] This property might be due to an acidic polypeptide found in its leaves that inhibited growth of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells by disruption of cell and nuclear membranes.[ citation needed ] It was also one of the sources of lignum nephriticum , a diuretic in Europe during the 16th to 18th centuries. Its reputation is due to its wood infusions, which are fluorescent. [7]

The tree is recommended as an ornamental tree for avenues and is sometimes planted in Puerto Rico as a shade and ornament. The tall, dome-shaped crown, with long, drooping branches is very attractive and the flowers are spectacular in areas with a dry season. It is very easily propagated from seed or large stem cuttings, but suffers from disease problems. It is widely planted as a roadside, park, and parking lot tree.

In agroforestry, it maintains ecosystem fertility and soil stability. Narra is a leguminous plant that is capable of fixing nitrogen by forming endosymbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria that lives in its root nodules. Nodulating leguminous plants, such as narra, are responsible for transforming atmospheric nitrogen into a plant-usable form.

In the Philippines, a permit is required to cut the narra (cf. Tagalog and Cebuano nára, Maranao nara), [13] but nevertheless the popular sturdy wood is widely used for construction and furniture projects. [14]

In Singapore, the ease to propagate the tree made it a favourite for the urban planners in Singapore to plant new trees via monoculture in a campaign to transform the rapidly urbaning city into a green city in between 1969 and 1982. [15] [16] In 1985, 1,400 trees died due to "Angsana Wilt Disease," and were cut down. [16] It was found that the fusarium oxysporum fungi species was the cause of the disease. [16] The fungus was carried by ambrosia beetles boring into the trees. [17] The infection was eventually controlled by a combination of monitoring, removal of lightning-damaged trees, and replanting with identified disease-resistant varieties. [18]

Symbolism

It is the national tree of the Philippines, [8] as well as the provincial tree of Chonburi and Phuket in Thailand.

Pterocarpus indicus, Burmese rose wood tree in the Penang Botanic Garden Pterocarpus indicus, Burmese rose wood tree in the Penang Botanic Garden.jpg
Pterocarpus indicus, Burmese rose wood tree in the Penang Botanic Garden

Related Research Articles

<i>Pterocarpus</i> Genus of legumes

Pterocarpus is a pantropical genus of trees in the family Fabaceae. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae, and was recently assigned to the informal monophyletic Pterocarpus clade within the Dalbergieae. Most species of Pterocarpus yield valuable timber traded as padauk, usually pronounced or ; other common names are mukwa or narra. The west African species may be traded as African rosewood. P. santalinus also yields the most precious red sandalwood in China known as Zitan. The wood from the narra tree and the Burmese padauk tree is marketed as amboyna when it has grown in the burl form. The scientific name is Latinized Ancient Greek and means "wing fruit", referring to the unusual shape of the seed pods in this genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Mainit</span> Lake in the Philippines

Lake Mainit is the fourth largest lake in the Philippines, having a surface area of 173.40 square kilometres (66.95 sq mi). The lake is also the deepest lake in the country with maximum depth reaching 223 metres (732 ft). It is located in the northeastern section of Mindanao and shared between the provinces of Surigao del Norte and Agusan del Norte.

Narra may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narra, Palawan</span> Municipality in Palawan, Philippines

Narra, officially the Municipality of Narra, is a 1st class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 77,948 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosewood</span> Several dark-hued, dense tropical woods of the genus Dalbergia

Rosewood is any of a number of richly hued hardwoods, often brownish with darker veining, but found in other colours. It is hard, tough, strong, and dense. True rosewoods come from trees of the genus Dalbergia, but other woods are often called rosewood. Rosewood takes a high polish and is used for luxury furniture-making, flooring, musical instruments, and turnery.

Philippine mahogany is a common name for several different species of trees and their wood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloodwood</span> Index of plants with the same common name

Bloodwood is a common name for several unrelated trees, including:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Na ʻĀina Kai Botanical Gardens</span>

Na ʻĀina Kai Botanical Gardens are nonprofit botanical gardens located at 4101 Wailapa Road, Kīlauea, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi. A variety of guided tours are offered Tuesday through Friday; an admission fee is charged for each.

<i>Pterocarpus erinaceus</i> Species of legume

Pterocarpus erinaceus is an endangered species of tree that is native to the Sahelian region of West Africa. It is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is used for fuel wood, for medicinal purposes, as a woodworking material, and is useful as a nitrogen-fixing plant to improve nutrient-depleted farming land. It has several common names, including kosso, barwood, African kino tree, muninga, and vène; mukwa is used for this species as well as other Pterocarpus. Groves of the tree can be found on the savannahs of West Africa, but it is becoming increasingly rare and is sometimes cultivated. The tree also grows in forests of Comoé National Park in Côte d'Ivoire, a region geographically close to the Sahel but with a higher moisture regime due to its location between two large rivers. Also, the tree grows in abundance in Kurmi Local Govt. of Taraba State in Nigeria. The tree grows to about 11 meters in height on average, and bears dark, scaly bark and yellow flowers. The fruits are winged pods. P. erinaceus grows well on sunny, hot African plains with long dry seasons and frequent fires.

<i>Pterocarpus macrocarpus</i> Species of legume

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.

<i>Pterocarpus santalinus</i> Species of legume

Pterocarpus santalinus, with the common names red sanders, red saunders, Yerra Chandanam, Chenchandanam, red sandalwood, Rakta Chandana, and saunderswood, is a species of Pterocarpus endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats mountain range of South India. This tree is valued for the rich red colour of its wood, and in recent years there has been a marked uptick in the use of red sandalwood as a component of incense, especially in the west. The tree is not to be confused with the aromatic Santalum sandalwood trees that grow natively in Southern India.

<i>Pterocarpus dalbergioides</i> Species of legume

Pterocarpus dalbergioides, the Andaman padauk, Andaman redwood or East Indian mahogany, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae. It is sometimes called "narra", but this is just a generic term used for any of several Pterocarpus species. It is native to the Andaman Islands.

<i>Pterocarpus soyauxii</i> Species of legume

Pterocarpus soyauxii, the African padauk or African coralwood, is a species of Pterocarpus in the family Fabaceae, native to central and tropical west Africa, from Nigeria east to Congo-Kinshasa and south to Angola.

<i>Lignum nephriticum</i>

Lignum nephriticum is a traditional diuretic that was derived from the wood of two tree species, the narra and the Mexican kidneywood. The wood is capable of turning the color of water it comes in contact with into beautiful opalescent hues that change depending on light and angle, the earliest known record of the phenomenon of fluorescence. Due to this strange property, it became well known in Europe from the 16th to the early 18th century. Cups made from lignum nephriticum were given as gifts to royalty. Water drunk from such cups, as well as imported powders and extracts from lignum nephriticum, were thought to have great medicinal properties.

Coatli is a Nahuatl word meaning "water serpent" or "serpent water" and is the name for several medicinal plants, it can refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flora of Malaysia</span>

The Flora of Malaysia comprises a vast assemblage of plant species estimated to over 15,500 vascular plants. Malaysia boasts 8,019 species of seed plants: 19 species of Gymnosperms and 8,000 Angiosperms. Globally, Malaysia is ranked 14th in terms of species of vascular plants. The Flora of Malaysia consist of approximately 15,000 species of vascular plant. Peninsular Malaysia has around 8,200 species of vascular plants while places such as Sabah and Sarawak has around 12,000 species. Most Flora can be found in the dense rainforest of Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koa wilt</span> Fungal plant disease

Koa wilt is a relatively new disease to Hawaii, discovered in 1980. Koa wilt is caused by a forma specialis of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum, which is now abundant in Hawaiian soils and infects the native Acacia koa tree, a once-dominant species in the canopy of Hawaiian forests. Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. koae is believed to have been brought into Hawaii on an ornamental acacia plant. Fusarium fungi clog the tree xylem, causing significant wilt and mortality among these beautiful and iconic Hawaiian trees.

Purwodadi Botanical Garden is a research centre in Purwodadi, Pasuruan, East Java, Indonesia. It has an area of 85 hectares and more than 10,000 types of trees and many plant collections. Callus cultures of Agave amaniensis by Setia Dewi were taken in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flora of the Philippines</span>

The flora of the Philippines boasts a diverse array of plant species given its location in the great Malaysian flora. The Malaysian Phytogeographic zone is considered to be one of the most important centers for plant diversity because of the multitude and variance of species occupying that zone. The archipelago is isolated by a continental and deep ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 Barstow, M. (2018). "Pterocarpus indicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T33241A2835450. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T33241A2835450.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Pterocarpus indicus Willd". The World Flora Online. World Flora Consortium. 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  3. "Pterocarpus indicus". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  4. Merrill, Elmer Drew (1903). A dictionary of the plant names of the Philippine Islands. Manila: Bureau of Public Printing, Department of The Interior. p. 179 via University of Michigan Digital Collections.
  5. Gardner, Simon; Sidisunthorn, Pindar; Ee, Lai (2011). Heritage Trees of Penang. Penang, Malaysia: Areca Books. ISBN   978-967-57190-6-6.[ page needed ]
  6. "Pterocarpus indicus". International Legume Database & Information Service. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011.
  7. 1 2 Muyskens, M.; Ed Vitz (2006). "The Fluorescence of Lignum nephriticum: A Flash Back to the Past and a Simple Demonstration of Natural Substance Fluorescence". Journal of Chemical Education. 83 (5): 765. Bibcode:2006JChEd..83..765M. doi:10.1021/ed083p765.
  8. 1 2 Pangilinan, Leon Jr. (3 October 2014). "In Focus: 9 Facts You May Not Know About Philippine National Symbols". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  9. Danida Seed Leaflet: Pterocarpus indicus (pdf file) Archived 9 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  10. 1 2 3 Purdue University New Crops: Pterocarpus indicus Archived 5 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Carandang, 2004
  12. Saputri et.al., 2007
  13. Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen (2010). "*nara a tree: Pterocarpus indica". Austronesian Comparative Dictionary. Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  14. "In Focus: 9 Facts You May Not Know About Philippine National Symbols – National Commission for Culture and the Arts". National Commission for Culture and the Arts. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  15. "SOTA's Angsana tree to be removed due to decay". TODAY. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 Yeo, Hwee Yng (22 December 1992). "New treatment found for diseased Angsana trees". The Straits Times . p. 25. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  17. Sanderson, F. R.; Fong, Yok King; Saiful Anuar; Yik, Choi Pheng; Ong, Keng Ho (1996). A Fusarium Wilt (Fusariurn oxysporum) of Angsana (Pterocarpus indicus) in Singapore (PDF) (Report).
  18. Mystery Plague That Killed Singapore's Angsanas | Secret Lives Of Trees (Part 1/2) | Full Episode (documentary), CNA, 12 January 2023, retrieved 1 February 2023

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Pterocarpus indicus at Wikimedia Commons