Padauk wood is obtained from several
species of
Pterocarpus. All padauks are of African or Asian origin. Padauks are valued for their toughness, stability in use, and decorativeness, most having a reddish wood. Most
Pterocarpus woods contain either water- or alcohol-soluble substances and can be used as
dyes. The padauk found most often is African padauk from
P. soyauxii which, when freshly cut, is a very bright red/orange but when exposed to sunlight fades over time to a warm brown. Its colour makes it a favourite among woodworkers. Burmese padauk (ပိတောက်) is
P. macrocarpus while Andaman padauk is
P. dalbergioides. Padauks can be confused with true
rosewoods to which they are somewhat related, but as a general rule padauks are coarser and less decorative in figure. Like rosewood, padauk is sometimes used to make
xylophone,
organ and
marimba keys, and guitars. It is an important material in traditional
Chinese furniture. Some padauks, e.g.
P. soyauxii, are used as
herbal medicines, for example to treat skin parasites and fungal infections. Padauk wood is also used as a
spice, for example in
Swedish soused herring. ==Chemistry==