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ROSEWOOD (NEW GUINEA)

Common Name(s): Narra, Amboyna (burl)

Scientific Name: Pterocarpus indicus

Distribution: Southeast Asia

Janka Hardness: 1,260 lbf (5,620 N)

Color/Appearance: Heartwood can vary widely in color, ranging from a golden yellow to a reddish brown. Pale yellow sapwood is clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Quartersawn surfaces display ribbon-stripe figure, and the wood is also seen with mottled, beeswing, or curly figure. Narra burl is full of well-defined knot clusters, and the highly valued wood is known as Amboyna.

Grain/Texture: Grain is usually interlocked, and can sometimes be wavy. With an uneven medium to coarse texture with good natural luster.

Workability: Easy to work with both hand and machine tools, one of Narra’s only downsides is that it has a moderate blunting effect on cutters. Narra turns, glues, and finishes well.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations, caused primarily by exploitation.

Common Uses: Veneer, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, plywood, turned objects, and small specialty wood items.