Monkey Pod

Specs

Common Names

Monkeypod, Monkey Pod, Raintree

Scientific Name

Albizia saman (syn. Samanea saman, Pithecellobium saman)

Origin

Central and South America (Also planted/naturalized in many tropical regions of the world)

Appearance

Color tends to be a golden to dark brown, sometimes with darker streaks. Sapwood is usually thin and yellow/white, clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Monkeypod is sometimes seen with highly figured curly or wild grain patterns. Grain is usually straight, but can also be interlocked or wavy. Texture is medium to coarse, with medium to large open pores and a moderate natural luster. Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; large to very large pores in no specific arrangement, very few to few; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; heartwood deposits occasionally present; narrow rays usually not visible without lens, normal spacing; parenchyma vasicentric, lozenge, and confluent.

Avg. Dried Weight

38 lbs/ft3 (600 kg/m3)

Janka Hardness

900 lbf

Modulus of Rupture

9,530 lbf/in2 (65.7 MPa)

Elastic Modulus

1,149,000 lbf/in2 (7.92 GPa)

Crushing Strength

5,790 lbf/in2 (39.9 MPa)

Shrinkage

Radial: 2.0%, Tangential: 3.4%, Volumetric: 6.0%, T/R Ratio: 1.7

Durability

Rated as durable to very durable regarding decay resistance, Monkeypod is also resistant to most insect attacks.

Workability

Monkeypod is generally easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though any interlocked grain may result in fuzzy or torn grain during planing operations. Glues and finishes well.