sappanwood

Sappanwood
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Caesalpinioideae
Tribe:	Caesalpinieae
Genus:	Caesalpinia
Species:	C. sappan
Binomial name
Caesalpinia sappan

Sappanwood, Sapanwood, or Suou (Japanese) (Caesalpinia sappan) is a species of flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia and the Malay archipelago. Sappanwood belongs to the same genus as Brazilwood (C. echinata), and was originally called "brezel wood" in Europe.

This plant has many uses. It possesses medicinal abilities as an anti-bacterial and for its anti-coagulant properties. It also produces a valued type of reddish dye called brazilin, used for dyeing fabric as well as making red paints and inks. The wood is somewhat lighter in color than Brazilwood and its other allies, but the same tinctorial principle appears to be common to all.

Sappanwood was a major trade good during the 17th century, when it was exported from Southeast Asian nations (especially Siam) aboard red seal ships to Japan.

References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

• World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). Caesalpinia sappan. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.

• Media related to Caesalpinia sappan at Wikimedia Commons
• Information related to Caesalpinia sappan from Wikispecies.

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