Angsana
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| Pterocarpus indicus Willd. |
The Burmese Rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus) is a tree that yields valuable timber. It is known as Narra in the Philippines, Sonokembang in Indonesia, Angsana or Sena in Malaysia and Singapore, padouk in Fiji, tnug in Cambodia, and Pradu in Thailand. Narra is the national tree of the Philippines.
[edit] Description
The Narra is a tall deciduous tree that could reach 30 meters to up to 48 meters in places where it is indigenous. Leaves can be 12 to 22 cm long and its petiole about 2 to 4 cm long. The flowers can be few to numerous and blooms in February to May in the Philippines, Borneo and the Malay peninsula. They are fragrant and bears yellow or orange-yellow petals. The fruits are semiorbicular and is about 6 cm in diameter. The fruit, which ripens within 4-6 months, becomes brown when dry. It has a membranaceous wing used for dispersion. Most Pterocarpus species prefer seasonal weather but P. indicus prefer rainforests.
[edit] Uses
The hardwood, which is reddish, 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. 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 tree is recommended as an ornamental avenue tree and is sometimes planted in Puerto Rico for as a shade and ornament. It is also a source of kino or resin. In folk medicine, it is used to combat tumors. 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. It is also known as a diuretic in Europe during the 16th and 18th centuries. Its reputation may be due to its wood infusions, which are fluorescent.
[edit] References
- World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). Pterocarpus indicus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1d v2.3)
- Pterocarpus indicus:
- Pterocarpus indicus (PIER species info):
| National symbols of the Philippines |  |
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| Official: National Flag | Coat of arms | Lupang Hinirang | Cariñosa | Carabao | Philippine Eagle | Milkfish Sampaguita | Narra | Anahaw | Mango | Sipa | Barong and Baro't saya | José Rizal |
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| Unofficial: Bayan Ko | Pilipinas Kong Mahal | Pearl | Blessed Virgin Mary | Juan de la Cruz | ||
