Adenanthera pavonina (Red Wood)

Common Names: Red wood, Coral-Wood

Botanical Name: Adenanthera pavonina L.

Synonyms: Adenanthera gersenii Scheff., Adenanthera polita Miq., Entada arborea Griff.

Family: Fabaceae

Distribution: Tropical Asia to Northern Australia.

Uses of Adenanthera pavonina (Red Wood):

Timber Production: The heartwood is red, hard, close-grained, durable, and strong, making it ideal for house-building and cabinet-making.
Dye Production: Bark yields a red dye used in traditional applications.
Wood Substitute: Serves as an alternative to red sandalwood in various uses.
Fuel-wood: Provides good quality firewood and charcoal.
Ornamental Tree: Widely planted for its attractive foliage and striking red seeds.
Shade Tree: Often used in agroforestry systems for shade and shelter.
Medicinal Uses: Seeds, leaves, and bark are used in traditional medicine for various ailments.
Craft Material: Hard seeds are used in making beads, jewelry, and decorative items.

Adenanthera pavonina (Red wood)

A fast growing tree with spreading crown, can attain a height up to 20 m. Leaves bipinnate, up to 30 cm long; pinnae 3-6 pairs, opposite; leaflets alternate, 4-8 pairs, elliptic-oblong, up to 3.8 cm long, dark green above, glaucous beneath. Inflorescence an axillary raceme or a terminal panicle. Flowers pale-yellow, ca. 5 mm in across. Pod flat, falcately curved, up to 23 cm long and 2 cm in width; valves spirally twisted after dehiscence. Seeds smooth, compressed, shining, brilliant scarlet, ca. 8 mm in diam.

Etymology: The genus name “Adenanthera” comes from the Greek words adene (gland) and anthera (anther), likely referring to the glandular-tipped anthers. The specific epithet “pavonina” is derived from the Latin word pavoninus, means of peacock this likely refers to its ornamental seeds resembling peacock eyes.