12/27/2023 0 Comments Purple heart treePurpleheart wood is popular for manufacturing floors, furniture, structural elements, and architectural finishes due to its physical and mechanical properties. The wood is difficult to work with, dry, and preserve, but has a high natural durability. The sapwood is gray-yellow, whereas the heartwood is bright purple with dark stripes. Purpleheart wood is heavy (0.8-1 g/cm3) with a medium to fine texture. Peltogyne purpurea was included in the Red Book of Plants of Colombia: Endangered Timber Species, under the IUCN designation of Vulnerable (VU). In Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, Peltogyne purpurea has been declared a vulnerable species. They are compressed, oval-shaped, and usually grow to 5 cm long. Purpleheart fruit matures between November and February. The flowers are white, aromatic, and small, and are arranged in subterminal panicles, or clusters. Peltogyne purpurea reproduces between August and December, depending on geographic location. The leaves are alternate, pinnate and composed of a single pair of leaflets that are 5–7 cm long and 2–3 cm broad. Its distinct coloration makes it recognizable from great distances. Purpleheart bark is smooth and light gray in old trees. It has a rounded crown and typically short buttress roots that occasionally reach 3 meters tall. Peltogyne purpurea grows up to 50 meters tall and 1 meter in diameter. It occupies sites with well-drained and deep loamy soils in sloping terrains, as well as poor, reddish clay soils with high concentrations of iron and aluminum. It is a common canopy tree in rainforests 50–500 meters above sea level at sites with more than 2500 mm (98.5 in) rainfall per year and temperatures from 23 to 27 ☌ or 73 to 80 ☏. Peltogyne purpurea is native to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama, and also the Atlantic coast of Colombia. If you would like more information about purpleheart wood or to place an order for hardwood lumber in Houston, call or visit Houston Hardwoods Inc.Peltogyne purpurea, commonly known as nazareno, or purpleheart, is a species of Peltogyne tree native to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama, and also the Atlantic coast of Colombia. Some people use the wood in their home to remove negative energy, tension, anger and worry. For example, modern day pagans believe this type of wood can enhance knowledge and creative energy and contribute to healing. Some religions believe that purpleheart wood has spiritual qualities. Once purpleheart wood reaches its peak purple color, if it continues to be exposed to UV light it will begin to take on an almost black appearance, turn a chocolate-purple or look more like deep maroon. To start, the wood is either light gray or faded brown in color, then darkens into a purple hue after it ages and is exposed to the sun. Interestingly enough, the wood doesn’t show purple until after it’s cut. It’s also very dense, and can block rot, decay and termites.Įarlier we shared that the exterior of purpleheart trees are not purple. Purpleheart wood is one of the sturdiest, hardiest types of wood in the world. In addition, it’s pretty much unbreakable. While this purpleheart is durable, strong and insect- and water-resistant and able to withstand sudden changes in humidity and temperature, it is also a very sustainable wood. The tree is sustainable and just about unbreakableīecause purpleheart wood is not as commonly known as pine, cedar and oak-plus the assumption that its lovely color makes it rare-you’d think it would be a tree on the endangered list. Furthermore, purpleheart goes by other names in different languages, including amaranth, saka, pau roxo, violetwood, morado and tananeo. With more than 20 documented species in this genus category, it’s not surprising that the purpleheart tree grows in multiple areas, such as Costa Rica, Trinidad and places around southeastern Brazil, with most species growing in the Amazon basin. Purpleheart hails from the genus Peltogyne. It looks like an ordinary tree.Īre you interested in learning more about this standout wood? The following are some things you may not know about purpleheart hardwood lumber in Houston. Even more fascinating is the fact that the tree that this lumber is harvested from is not purple at all on the outside. In its natural form, purpleheart wood has a naturally beautiful color, but displays a variety of purple shades once cut. This wood carries an air of exotic beauty that makes it unique in its class. If you seek the latter, then you should visit your local lumber store and ask to see their supply of purpleheart wood. Sometimes it’s for the density or workability offered by a species of wood, while other times it’s about the physical appearance, such as the color or grain. Experienced and novice woodworkers may be drawn to different types of wood for a variety of reasons.
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