Fabaceae FAMILY Vulnerable

Pterocarpus dalbergioides

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Pterocarpus dalbergioides is a semideciduous or nearly evergreen tree with ascending branches, growing 25 - 40 metres tall. The bole is usually straight, cylindrical and buttressed, and can be up to 180cm in diameter[ 316 Title Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607. Publication Author Chudnoff. Martin. Publisher USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin. Year 1984 ISBN Description Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics. , 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. The tree yields one of the most important timber trees of the Andaman Islands, where it is commonly harvested from the wild for local use and for export, mainly to mainland India. 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[ 1791 Title The Hongmu Challenge; A briefing for the 66th meeting of the CITES Standing Committee, January 2016 Publication Author Website http://www.eia-global.org Publisher Environmental Investigation Agency; London Year 2016 ISBN Description Lists the 33 species used in making Hungmu furniture and the degree of over-exploitation plus recommendations for protecting them. ]. The tree also yields edible leaves and flowers, medicines and tannins for the local populace. It is grown as a street tree and ornamental in India and Africa[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. It is estimated that over the past three generations the population of Pterocarpus dalbergioides has declined by at least 30% as a result of historical timber harvesting. Logging of the species is now more strictly controlled but the species habitat is becoming fragmented. The overall population size of the species is not known but it is considered to be in decline due to poor seed regeneration, with no saplings or seedlings being found across 106, 0.1 ha sites. The tree is long lived and thought to need forest disturbance for there to be significant regeneration. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeE. Asia - Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

HabitatFound in deciduous and semi-moist deciduous forests, growing on well-drained banks and undulating terrain, on or near riverbanks and sometimes forming pure stands; at elevations up to 100 metres[ 316 Title Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607. Publication Author Chudnoff. Martin. Publisher USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin. Year 1984 ISBN Description Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics. , 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].