Related to my other post titled 'Help in Madison, WI', I've obtained a piece of the purported Narra lumber that the widow is looking to sell. I'm looking to confirm that it is in fact Narra (pterocarpus indicus).
Right off the bat I can tell it's definitely a pterocarpus species. Pterocarpus indicus has a good bit of variation in grain and color. I'm about 97% sure this is pterocarpus indicus, but the one thing that gives me a little pause is that it seems to lean more ring porus than other samples i see. I would still characterize it as semi-ring porus, but there seems to be a larger concentration of large pores in the early wood. There is no information regarding origins of this wood.
Other characteristics:
- board is quartersawn
- slight ribbon stripe figure
- light brown to golden brown color
- scent is familiar, but i can't place it (will update if i can remember, but i want to say it is just reminding me of another wood...shorea maybe?)
- Block: 3" x 15/16” x 5 15/16”, 178g >> 40.62 lb/ft³ (consistent with wood database for Narra)
I haven't yet done UV fluorescence testing or a froth test, but I plan to do those as well.
As a follow-up question if this is confirmed Narra, is there any scientific distinction between red, yellow, and brown Narra beyond physical appearance? Are there subspecies associated with these different colors of Narra? It seems there isn't, but i wanted to check in case anyone knows otherwise.
Right off the bat I can tell it's definitely a pterocarpus species. Pterocarpus indicus has a good bit of variation in grain and color. I'm about 97% sure this is pterocarpus indicus, but the one thing that gives me a little pause is that it seems to lean more ring porus than other samples i see. I would still characterize it as semi-ring porus, but there seems to be a larger concentration of large pores in the early wood. There is no information regarding origins of this wood.
Other characteristics:
- board is quartersawn
- slight ribbon stripe figure
- light brown to golden brown color
- scent is familiar, but i can't place it (will update if i can remember, but i want to say it is just reminding me of another wood...shorea maybe?)
- Block: 3" x 15/16” x 5 15/16”, 178g >> 40.62 lb/ft³ (consistent with wood database for Narra)
I haven't yet done UV fluorescence testing or a froth test, but I plan to do those as well.
As a follow-up question if this is confirmed Narra, is there any scientific distinction between red, yellow, and brown Narra beyond physical appearance? Are there subspecies associated with these different colors of Narra? It seems there isn't, but i wanted to check in case anyone knows otherwise.
