Editing Pterocarpus (section)

==Uses==
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 ''[https://onetotree.org/narra/ Pterocarpus]''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Narra|url=https://onetotree.org/narra/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=OneToTree|language=en}}</ref> woods contain either water- or alcohol-soluble substances and can be used as [[dye]]s.

The padauk found most often is African padauk from ''[[Pterocarpus soyauxii|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 ''[[Pterocarpus macrocarpus|P. macrocarpus]]'' while Andaman padauk is ''[[Pterocarpus dalbergioides|P. dalbergioides]]''. Padauks can be confused with true [[Rosewood (timber)|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 (music)|organ]] and [[marimba]] keys, and guitars. It is an important material in traditional [[Chinese furniture]].

[[File:African Padauk wood.jpg|thumb|African padauk wood]]

Some padauks, e.g. ''P. soyauxii'', are used as [[herbal medicine]]s, for example to treat skin parasites and fungal infections.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/Sea/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=17977 | title = AgroForestryTree Database entry for ''Pterocarpus soyauxii'' | author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | website = AgroForestryTree Database | publisher = World Agroforestry Centre (WAC) | access-date = 1 November 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090213121119/http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/Sea/Products/AFDbases/AF/asp/SpeciesInfo.asp?SpID=17977 | archive-date = 13 February 2009 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Padauk wood is also used as a [[spice]], for example in [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[soused herring]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bohusmatjes |url=https://www.abba.se/produkt/bohusmatjes/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202154420/https://www.abba.se/produkt/bohusmatjes/ |archive-date=2 December 2023 |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=[[Abba_Seafood|Abba]] |language=en-US |quote=Ingredienser: Sill i bitar, socker, salt, kryddor (bland andra kanel, muskotblomma, padoukträ) |trans-quote=Ingredients: Herring in pieces, sugar, salt, spices (among others cinnamon, mace, padauk wood)}}</ref>