Pterocarpus marsupium

Botanical Description

Pterocarpus marsupium is a large deciduous tree with spreading branches reaching a height of up to 33 metres[ 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. ]. When growing under favourable conditions, the tree can produce a straight bole[ 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. ]. A multi-purpose tree producing a very valuable timber, it is often planted by the Indian forestry[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ]. 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 has a wide range of other uses - it is commonly harvested for medicinal purposes as well as providing food and a range of commodities. It is grown as a shade tree in coffee plantations and is often cultivated as a multipurpose tree in home gardens and as component of agroforestry systems in India and Sri Lanka [ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ]. Pterocarpus marsupium is heavily exploited for its timber, resin and medicinal bark[ 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. ]. Its population is declining, especially in Sri Lanka and total populations in India are likely to be small. The tree almost reaches the criteria for 'Vulnerable', but is currently listed as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2017)[ 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. ].