Mmonkeypod (Samanea saman)
Samanea saman • Exotic/Tropical Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Usually straight, but can be interlocked or wavy. Often shows a beautiful "cathedral" figure on flat-sawn surfaces and can exhibit curly or wild grain patterns in crotch sections.
Color Description
Heartwood is golden to dark brown, often with black streaks. Sapwood is typically thin and yellow-white, clearly demarcated from heartwood. It has a high natural luster and may exhibit significant chatoyancy.
Hardness Rating
600 lbf (Soft)
Durability Rating
Durable; rated as durable to very durable regarding decay resistance. It is also generally resistant to termite attack.
Common Uses
Furniture (especially live-edge slabs), cabinetry, carved bowls, musical instruments (guitars), veneer, and turnery.
Geographic Origin
Native to Central and South America, but widely naturalized throughout the tropics including Southeast Asia and Hawaii.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$15.00 - $30.00 per board foot for high-quality slabs; figured pieces can be higher.
Wood Age Estimate
Live tree/Freshly felled; based on the green foliage and intact bark, the specimen appears to be mid-growth, likely 20-40 years old based on trunk diameter.
Sustainability Status
Not listed in CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List; generally considered sustainable and often harvested from urban or plantation environments.
Workability
Generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Interlocked grain may cause some tearout during planing. It glues and finishes well, though large pores may require filling for a glass-smooth finish.
Notable Features
Distinctive large, umbrella-shaped canopy in life; the wood has a faint, characteristic scent when being worked. Excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
Finish Recommendations
Teak oil or tung oil to enhance the golden-brown colors; polyurethane or lacquer for a more durable protective coating on table surfaces.
Identification Confidence
High; the bipinnate leaf structure (mimosa-like), smooth light-grey bark with horizontal lenticels, and the branching habit are characteristic of Samanea saman (Monkeypod or Rain Tree).