Common Names:   Narra Amboyna Angsana Nara Narravitail New Guinea rosewood Papua New Guniea rosewood Rosewood Sena Solomons padauk Yaya sa Purchase Narra

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
The environmental profile of this species within its natural habitat is reported to be Vulnerable in the Philippines. Its status in Indonesia and parts of Malaysia is officially classified as either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare, and it has been assigned a conservation category of Insufficiently Known in Vietnam which means that the species is suspected to be either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare. The actual status of the species in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam is unknown because of inadequate information (Source - World Conservation Monitoring Center - 1992 ). 

Distribution
This species is one of about 60 in the Pterocarpus genus, which is reported to consist of small to large trees distributed throughout the tropics. Pterocarpus indicus is reported to be indigenous to Malaysia, but is also found in the Philippines, Borneo, Burma, New Guinea, and the Malay Archipelago. It is also reported to be often planted as an ornamental and a shade tree in several regions, including India, along roadsides, and in gardens because of its flowers and handsome foliage.

Product Sources
Some material from this species is reported to be available from environmentally responsible or sustainably managed sources. 

Tree Data
The tree is reported to reach a height of up to 100 feet (30 m) or more, with a trunk diameter of 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm). It develops boles that are often of rather poor form and high, wide-spreading buttresses.

Sapwood Color
The sapwood is whitish or straw-colored, and is clearly demarcated from the heartwood.

Heartwood Color
The color of the heartwood ranges from blood red, golden brown, light yellow, reddish brown to a distinct red. It darkens upon exposure.

Grain
The grain is typically interlocked, sometimes wavy. The wood is often marked with little twisted curls and knots which give a pronounced fine figure. Flat sawn surfaces are reported to have a flame figure, and quartersawn surfaces usually exhibit a ribbon figure.

Texture
The porosity of the wood gives it a moderately fine to a moderately coarse, and uneven texture.

Luster
The surface of the wood is somewhat lustrous.

Odor
A fragrant odor is reported to be present even in seasoned wood. There is no distinctive taste.

Ease of Drying
The timber is reported to dry well with very little or no degrade.

Drying Defects
End-splitting is reported to be the only degrade from drying.

Movement in Service
Properly seasoned timber is reported to be dimensionally stable, and retains its shape well after manufacture.

T/R Ratio
1.43
This indicator is more meaningful if it is used in conjunction with other drying information and actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window).

Natural Durability
The heartwood is reported to be naturally resistant to decay and to attack by termites. Resistant woods may last between 15 nd 25 years in contact with the ground and without any chemical protection.

Resistance to Impregnation
Data on resistance to impregnation is not conclusive, but some sources rate the heartwood as extremely difficult to treat with preservatives.

Toxic Constituents
Sawdust from machining operations may cause skin irritation in some individuals.

Blunting Effect
The wood has only slight blunting effect on cutting tools. 

Cutting Resistance
Sawing properties are reported to be very good.

Planing
Planing properties are reported to be good.

Turning
The material is reported to respond well to ordinary tools to yield clean, turned surfaces.

Moulding
Moulding operations are reported to be rather easy with ordinary machine tools.

Boring
Boring qualities are rated as good, and bored surfaces are generally clean and smooth.

Routing & Recessing
The timber is reported to be easy to rout with machine tools to yield clean, smooth surfaces.

Mortising
Mortising operations are reported to be rather easy.

Carving
The wood is reported to be rather easy to work.

Gluing
Gluing properties are rated as satisfactory.

Nailing
Nailing qualities are reported to be satisfactory.

Screwing
Screwing properties are reported to be good.

Sanding
The wood is reported to sand to a smooth surface. 

Polishing
Polishing characteristics are reported to be excellent.

Staining
The timber is reported to take stains well.

Steam Bending
Steam bending qualities are rated as moderate.

Response to Hand Tools
The timber is reported to respond well to hand tools.

Strength Properties
The bending strength of air-dried wood of the species is similar to that of Teak, which is considered to be strong. Strength in compression parallel to grain is in the high range. Other species in this range include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple. It is moderately hard and resistant to wearing and marring. It is a heavy wood. The wood is high in density.