Peltogyne venosa (Purpleheart)

Scientific Name
Peltogyne venosa

Trade Name
Purpleheart

Family Name
Leguminosae

Common Names
Amarante, Amaranth, Amaratante, Barabu, Bois pourpre, Bois voilet, Daba, Dastan, Ellongrypho, Guaraburajado, Guarab�, Koroboreli, Koroborezi, Kuruburelli, Lastan, Malako, Maraka, Mor ado, Morado, Nazareno, Palo morado, Pau roxo, Pau violeta, Pelo morado, Purperhart, Purpleheart, Saka, Sakavalli, Sapater, Tananeo, Violet, Violet wood, Violetwood, Zapatero

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

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Billiard-cue butts, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Bobbins, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical containers, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Filter press plates, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Marquetry, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling, Piling, Railroad ties, Shade rollers, Skis, Sporting Goods, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Walking sticks, Wheel spokes

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
Timber produced by about 20 species including, P. venosa , which grow in Central America and tropical South America, from Mexico to southern Brazil are collectively referred to by the trade name Purpleheart. They are most common in the Amazon basin, and are also found in Colombia, Guyana, Surinam, and Venezuela.

Heartwood Color

The heartwood is initially dull brown, but it rapidly changes to a bright, vibrant purple. Prolonged exposure darkens the wood to a dark-purplish brown or dark brown, but the original color is easily restored by recutting to expose new wood. Color variation between boards is moderate to high. Presence of minerals in some boards may cause uneven coloration and steaming is reported to affect the color. Peltogyne timbers are reported to vary widely in color between, and probably within species

Sapwood Color

The color has also been described as pinkish cinnamon with light brown streaks, and is usually about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) wide

Grain

The grain is typically straight, sometimes wavy, roey, or irregular.

Texture

Luster

Natural Durability

The wood is resistant to chemicals such as acids.

Odor

Toxicity

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Difficulty in air-drying varies from easy to moderately difficult, and drying rate range from slow to fairly rapid. Moisture extraction from center of thicker stock is rather difficult

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

Mature Purpleheart trees are usually tall and attain a height of about 100 to 150 feet (30 to 45 m), and a diameter of up to 48 inches (120 cm), 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.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Treatment against ultra-violet fading has been suggested since the wood turns gray-brown upon exposure to sunlight. A treatment with Armorall, the car finish product, under lacquer is reported to maintain the original color well

Working the wood with dull cutting tools may cause gum exudation

Blunting Effect

Cutting tools may be gummed up if they are not very sharp

Boring

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Tools usually require frequent sharpening. Slow feed rates and specially tipped cutters are suggested.

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

Working with dull cutters may cause the wood to heat up and exude resin which can considerably increase machining difficulty. Slower feed rates and specially tipped cutters, or sharp, high-speed steel knives are suggested. A reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees has also been recommended, especially when planing and moulding material with interlocked or wavy grain.

Resistance to Impregnation

Resistance to Splitting

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

The material is fairly difficult to sand

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Polishing

Staining

There is a tendency for some finishes to bleed, but reports indicate that water-based finishes hold color better. The use of spirit finishes are reported to remove the purple coloring in the wood.

Strength Properties

It is hard, and quite resistant to denting

Numerical Data

References
Bodig, J. and B. A. Jayne. 1982. Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York.

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

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.

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

HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer, Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

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.

Kaiser, J. 1992. Wood of the Month: Purpleheart – The Versatile Purple Wood. Wood & Wood Products, July, 1992. Page 62.

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.

Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50 (Spersedes Bulletin No. 45). Ministry of Technology, 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.

NWFA. 1994. Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring. Technical Publication No. A200. National Wood Flooring Association, Manchester, MO.

Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l’Union Francaise,C.T.F.T

Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4

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

Wangaard, F.F., and A.F. Muschler. 1952. Tropical Woods – Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume III, No. 98. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Wangaard, F.F., W.L. Stern, and S.L. Goodrich. 1955. Tropical Woods – Properties and Uses of Tropical Woods, Volume V, No. 103. School of Forestry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut