- GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: heartwood dark brown when freshly cut becoming deep purple to purplish violet, clearly distinct from the narrow light yellow to very pale brown sapwood. Grain straight, wavy or interlocked, texture medium to fine, luster moderate to high, not distinctive odor and taste.
- DENSITY: heavy wood, with density at 12% moisture content of 1,000 kg/m3 and green density of 1,300 kg/m3.
- DRYING: P. paniculata kiln-dries rapidly, with slight tendency to pronounced end checking, twisting and springing, when submitted to the drying schedule 1.
- WORKABILITY: regular in plane and excellent in sanding, turning and boring. Reported as moderately difficult work due to its hardness and resin exudation when heated by tools. Glues well. Lustrous polishing. Previous boring for nailing is advisable.
- DURABILITY: heartwood highly resistant to decay fungi, very resistant to dry-wood termites, but less resistant to marine borers. (6)
- PRESERVATION: heartwood not treatable with creosote or CCA-A, even with pressure-vaccum systems.
- USES: fine cabinet work, railroad crossties, civil and naval construction, sculptures, flooring, turnery and others.
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