Acacia (likely Monkey Pod or Golden Acacia)
Albizia saman (formerly Samanea saman) • Exotic/Tropical Hardwood
Grain Pattern
Interlocked grain with a medium to coarse texture; exhibits subtle wavy figure and ribbon-like stripes typical of flat-sawn acacia cuts.
Color Description
Golden to dark brown heartwood with distinct streaks of reddish or amber hues; displays high natural luster and golden chatoyance that deepens with light exposure. Sapwood is typically much lighter/yellowish.
Hardness Rating
600-900 lbf (Soft to Medium)
Durability Rating
Moderately Durable; good resistance to decay and termites, though sapwood is susceptible to powder post beetles.
Common Uses
Furniture, large slab tabletops, carved bowls, cabinetry, flooring, and decorative veneers.
Geographic Origin
Native to Central and South America; widely naturalized in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Market Value & Sustainability
Estimated Market Value
$10.00 - $20.00 per board foot (varies significantly by figure and slab size).
Wood Age Estimate
The sample appears to be from a finished piece of furniture approximately 10-30 years old, based on the patina and surface scratches.
Sustainability Status
Not listed on CITES Appendices or the IUCN Red List; widely available and generally considered sustainable due to fast growth cycles.
Workability
Generally easy to work, though interlocked grain can cause fuzzy surfaces or tearout during planing and routing; glues and finishes well.
Notable Features
Distinctive golden glow (chatoyance); faint sweet scent when freshly cut; relatively lightweight for a hardwood compared to oak or walnut.
Finish Recommendations
Penetrating oils or clear shellac to enhance chatoyance; polyurethane is recommended for table surfaces to protect the relatively soft fibers from scratches.
Identification Confidence
High; the combination of large open pores, golden-brown color variation, and specific chatoyance in the grain is characteristic of Albizia wood species.