Peltogyne paniculata (Purpleheart)

Scientific Name
Peltogyne paniculata

Trade Name
Purpleheart

Family Name
Leguminosae

Synonyms
Peltogyne paniculata

Common Names
Algarrobito, Algarrobo, Amarante, Amaranth, Amarantholz, Barabu, Bois bagot, Bois de coeur, Bois pourpre, Bois puorpre, Bois violet, Daba, Dachitan, Ellongrypho, Guarabu, Guarabu branc, Guarabu preto, Guarabu rajado, Guarabu roxo, Guarabussu, Guarado vermelho, Hoepelhout, Koeroeboerelli, Kooroobooelli, Koorooboovelli, Koroboreli, Koroborelli, Kuroburelli, Kuruburelli, Lastan, Legno amaranto, Legno porpora, Legno violetto, Madera purpurea, Malako, Marado, Marako, Marawineroo, Morado, Moriadiana, Mu, Nazareno, Palo concha, Palo morado, Palo violeta, Pao rojo, Pao roxo, Pau ferro, Pau roxo, Pinyaukun, Poerprehati, Pourpre, Puperhart, Purperhart, Purpleheart, Purplewood, Purpuurhart, Rajado, Rarabu, Sacka, Sackaballi, Saka, Sakavalli, Sapater, Simirirang, Tananeo, Tangapaou, Tannaneo, Violet wood, Violetholz, Violetwood, Zapatero, Zeedrat

Regions of Distribution
Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, French Guiana, Guyana, Mexico, Suriname, Venezuela

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Billiard-cue butts, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Construction, Decks, Decorative veneer, Dining-room furniture, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Door, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Marquetry, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Skis, Sporting Goods, Stair rails, Stairworks, Structural work, Tables , Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Walking sticks, Wharf construction, Wheel spokes, Wheels

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
The name Purpleheart is the trade of timber produced by about 20 species in the genus Peltogyne, including P. paniculata, which are found in Central America and tropical South America, from Mexico to southern Brazil. They are most common in the Amazon basin, and also grow in Colombia, Guyana, Surinam, and Venezuela

Heartwood Color

The heartwood is dull-brown when freshly cut, but it changes rapidly to the vivid and well known purple color. Prolonged exposure to ultra-violet rays of the sun tones down the color to a medium or dark purple-brown. Recutting is reported to restore the wood to its original color

Sapwood Color

It is usually about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) wide in the mature tree

Grain

The grain is typically straight. Material with slightly irregular grain exhibits a particularly interesting grain pattern on quartersawn surfaces.

Texture

Luster

Natural Durability

The timber is prone to blue-stain, has high resistance to acids and is usually used in the untreated condition

Odor

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Warping and twisting may occur during drying. There may also be occasional checking but these close up tightly at the end of kiln-drying.

Ease of Drying

Both 1-inch and 2-inch (25 and 50 mm) boards are reported to kiln-dry fairly rapidly from the green condition despite very high initial moisture contents (up to 200%). Drying time can be reduced considerably if stock is air-seasoned to 30% moisture content before kilning

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

The trees are tall, attaining heights of 100 to 150 feet (30 to 45 m) and trunk diameters of up to 48 inches (120 cm), but usually between 18 and 36 inches (45 and 90 cm).

Product Sources
The ITTO reports that timber production from this species is regular. The material is exported at a low but regular rate.

Supplies are ample, but the wood is fairly expensive. It costs more than mahogany but less than teak. Although it has not found wide demand, Purpleheart is available on the US market in both the lumber and veneer forms.

Limited quantities of Purpleheart in long lengths and wide boards are available on the European market at prices that are comparable to those of medium cost hardwoods. For construction use, Purpleheart is available for shipping in the dry condition only

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Mechanical properties of the wood are reported to lie somewhere between those of Greenheart (Ocotea ) and Oak (Quercus ). It has exceptional tolerance for shock loading. Purpleheart is highly desired by hobbyists and craftsmen who use the hard heavy wood in small projects. To protect against ultra-violet fading, a coat of Armorall, a car finish product, under a lacqeur application has been suggested. The treatment is reported to hold the color of the wood rather well against fading

Blunting Effect

The wood has some blunting effect on cutting tools

Boring

Cutting Resistance

Gum in the wood may pose problems.

Gluing

Mortising

The wood requires very sharp cutting edges for smoothly machined surfaces

Moulding

Moulding properties are generally good in straight-grained material, especially if cutters are kept sharp. Wood containing wavy or interlocked grain tends to be difficult to mould

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

High density and gummy resin content are reported to make Purpleheart less than easy to work in most machining operations. Sharp, high-speed steel knives, as well as 15 degree cutting angles have been recommended. Material with interlocked or wavy grain are especially difficult to plane and mould

Resistance to Impregnation

Resistance to Splitting

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Turning operations are easier with sharp cutters

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Polishing

Staining

Spirit finishes are reported to take away the purple coloring. Wax is the only recommended finish if the rich natural color is to be preserved.

Varnishing

Strength Properties

It is hard and superior to Teak and probably Mahogany

Numerical Data

References
Bena, P.,1960,Essences Forestieres de Guyane,Bureau Agricole et Forestier Guyanais Guyana

Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers – The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building Research

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1954,Mukulungu (Autranella congolensis,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,36,pp25-28

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods – Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 2 South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Chen, C.L.,1962,The Physical Properties of 101 Chinese Woods,Forest Products Journal 12(7) pp339-42

Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne, CEDEX, France.

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Clark, H.S.,1931,Use of Amaranth (Peltogyne pubescens) for Interior trim and Flooring,Tropical Woods 4(25) pp1-3

Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods – Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London

Edmondson, C.H.,1949,Reaction of Woods from S.America and Caribbean areas to Marine Borers in,Hawaiian Waters,Caribbean Foresters,10(1,PP37-41

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Fanshawe, D.B.,1948,Studies of the Trees of British Guiana Part 3,Tropical Woods,12(93,pp1-28

Fanshawe, D.B.,1954,Forest Products of British Guiana Part 1 Principal Timbers,Forest Department British Guiana Forestry Bulletin (New Series 2nd,Edition,No.1

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1932,Preliminary tests on Timbers, Investigated under the auspices of the,Empire Timbers Committee: Properties of Purpleheart, Peltogyne pubescens,Benth,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Project 22,Investigation 11 21pp

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1935,Preliminary Tests on Timbers, Investigated under the auspices of the,Empire Timbers Committee: Properties of Purpleheart, Peltogyne pubescens,Benth. Addendum properties of air seasoned materials.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Project 22,Investigation 11 6pp

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment

Guna et al, S.R.D.,1945,Notes on British Guiana Timbers,The ‘Daily Chronicle’ Ltd. Printers,28PP

Guyana Forest Department,1951,British Guiana Timbers – Purpleheart (Peltogyne Spp.,British Guiana Forestry Department Leaflet No.4

Harrar, E.S.,1942,Some Physical Properties of Modern Cabinet Woods 3. Directional and Volume,Shrinkage,Tropical Woods,9(71, pp26-32

HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.

Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1991. Good Wood Handbook – The Woodworker’s Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Kaiser, J. 1990. Wood of the Month Annual – Purpleheart:The Beautiful Oddball. Supplement to Wood and Wood Products, September 1990. Page 8A.

Kline, M. 1980. Peltogyne paniculata – Purpleheart. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 262-263.

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

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Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Ministry of Technology, Forest Products Research, Bulletin No. 50. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

Longwood, F.R.,1962,Commercial Timbers of the Caribbean,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.207

Nairn, P.M., Editor. 1936. Wood Specimens – 100 Reproductions in Color – A Series of Selected Timbers Reproduced in Natural Color with Introduction and Annotations by H.A. Cox. The Nema Press, Proprietors of Wood, London.

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.7

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Vink, A.T.,1965,Surinam Timbers,Surinam Forest Service Paramaribo,3rd rev. ed