Monkey Pod (Pithecellobium saman)
Family: Leguminosae
Common names: Acacia, Aguango, Algarrobo, Algarrobo de pais, Algarrobo del pais, Almacigo blanco, Arbol de la lluvia, Arbre a pluie, Belati siris, Bois noir de Haiti, Bordao de velho, Campano, Carabali, Carabaly, Carreto, Carreto real, Cenicaro, Cenicero, Compano, Cow tamarind, Cow tamrind, Daugeni, Dormilon, French tamarind, Genizaro, Genizero, Giant tibet, Gipio, Gouannegoul, Gouannegowl, Guango, Huacamayo chico, Huacamayo-chico, Huacamayochico, Lara, Licorice, Locorice, Mazhamaram, Monkey Pod, Monkeypod, Nidaraganneru, Rain tree, Raintree, Sa, Samag, Samagu, Saman, Sanaguare, Sanguare, Tabaca, Thinbaw-kokko, Thungomonji, Thungumunji-maram, Urero, Zorra
Distributed in: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji [Polynesia], Fiji, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii [US], Indonesia, Jamaica, Mexico, New Caledonia Island [France], New Caledonia, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Puerto Rico, Suriname, Vanuatu, Venezuela (Africa, Central America, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: The genus Pithecellobium consists of shrubs and trees that are distributed in the tropical regions of the world. Monkey pod (P. saman) grow in forests and at the edge of forests, alongside roads and pathways in central and eastern Paraguay. It is also reported to grow from the Antilles to Paraguay, and is widely planted and naturalized throughout the West Indies, Mexico southward, and in other tropical regions including Africa where it grows in towns, villages and alon roadsides. It prefers well-drained fertile soils. An introduced species from South America, Monkey pod is also often planted as a shade tree in several parts of India, Burma, and the Andamans.\The genus Pithecellobium consist of shrubs and trees that are distributed in the tropical regions of the world. Monkey pod (S. saman) grow in at the edge of forests, alongside roads and pathways in central and eastern Paraguay. It is also reported to grow from the Antilles to Paraguay, and is widely planted and naturalized throughout the West Indies, Mexico southward, and in other tropical regions, including tropical Africa, where it grows in towns, villages and along roadsides. It prefers well-drained fertile soils. An introduced species from South America, Monkey pod is also often planted as a shade tree in several parts of India, Burma, and the Andamans. \
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boards, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Dressed boards, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Foundation posts, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Lumber, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rough boards/dimension stock, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Stakes, Stools, Tables , Tables, Toys, Trimming, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting, Wardrobes, Wheel spokes, Wheels, Woodwork
Environment profile: Widespread, abundant and globally secure
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isRed, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Wide.The grain isWavy, often interlocked , the textureResinous and oilyand the lusterMedium
Natural durability: Very durable, Very durable
Odor: No specific smell or taste
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: Kiln Drying Rate (in days) rapid
Kiln Drying Rate: Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Slight surface checking, Slight twist/warp
Ease of Drying: Slowly
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good It is also a favorite shade treeWell known Monkey pod of commerce, favored for wooden bowls, etc.
Blunting Effect: Little
Boring: Moderately easy
Carving: Good results
Cutting Resistance: Saws well
Gluing: Easy to glue
Mortising: Mortises well in general, except in material with interlocked grain
Moulding: Good moulding properties
Movement in Service: Good moulding properties
Planing: Tears and wooly surfaces may develop in planing operations of interlocked grain materials
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Resistance to Splitting: Good
Response to hand tools: Variable qualities
Routing recessing: Generally good routing qualities
Sanding: Good sanding properties
Veneering qualities: Suitable for peeling, Suitable for slicing
Turning: Turned surfaces tend to be wooly because of interlocked grain
Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Varnishing: Satisfactory
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- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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 |
 |
 |
| Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
| Specific Gravity |
0,34 |
0,48 |
|
| Density |
|
641 |
kg/m3 |
| Bending Strength |
555 |
717 |
kg/cm2 |
| Crushing Strength |
46 |
77 |
kg/cm2 |
| Hardness |
|
431 |
kg |
| Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
| Shearing Strength |
|
120 |
kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness |
74 |
84 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
| Tangential Shrinkage |
3 |
|
% |
| Radial Shrinkage |
2 |
|
% |
| Weight |
624 |
432 |
kg/m3 |
| Maximum Load |
0,7 |
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
| Toughness |
|
129 |
cm-kg |
| Static Bending |
324 |
338 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | | Item | Green | Dry | English | | Bending Strength | 7896 | 10201 | psi | | Crushing Strength | 665 | 1105 | psi | | Density | | 40 | lbs/ft3 | | Hardness | | 951 | lbs | | Maximum Crushing Strength | 3725 | 6028 | psi | | Shearing Strength | | 1714 | psi | | Static Bending | 4620 | 4820 | psi | | Stiffness | 1057 | 1197 | 1000 psi | | Toughness | | 112 | inch-lbs | | Work to Maximum Load | 10 | | inch-lbs/in3 | | Specific Gravity | 0.34 | 0.48 | | | Weight | 39 | 27 | lbs/ft3 | | Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % | | Tangential Shrinkage | 3 | | % | | Volumetric Shrinkage | 6 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Max. crushing strength = medium 0 Shrinkage, Radial = very small 0 Bending strength (MOR) = medium 0 Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage Volumetric = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low High in density Shrinkage, Tangential = small Resists wearing and marring Max. crushing strength = low Hardness = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Resists denting and marring Heavy Hardness (side grain) = soft
Being much weaker than White oak or Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content)
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