Indian Kino
Scientific name: Pterocarpus marsupium
Overview
Indian Kino is a medium to large tropical hardwood tree in the Fabaceae family, native to the Indian subcontinent. Pterocarpus marsupium occurs primarily in India and neighboring portions of South Asia, where it grows in deciduous forest environments. The species belongs to the same genus as several notable reddish hardwoods, including padauk, narra, and Red Sandalwood.
The heartwood generally ranges from golden brown and reddish brown to deeper red-brown, often becoming darker with age and exposure. Sapwood is considerably paler and normally contrasts clearly with the mature heartwood. Grain is typically interlocked or irregular, while texture ranges from medium to coarse. Quarter-sawn material can display attractive ribbon-like figure.
Indian Kino has historically been used for furniture, cabinetry, construction, flooring, agricultural implements, turning, and other applications requiring reasonably strong and durable timber. The species is also known for the reddish kino gum or resinous exudate associated with the tree, which has had various traditional uses.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Indian Kino
- Alternate Common Name(s): Malabar Kino, Bijasal, Vijaysar
- Scientific Name: Pterocarpus marsupium
- Region: Asian Hardwoods
- Tree Size: Approximately 50–100 ft (15–30 m) tall, occasionally larger
- Average Dried Weight: Approximately 50–55 lbs/ft³ (800–880 kg/m³), with natural variation
- Janka Hardness: Reliable standardized species-specific Janka values are not consistently documented
- Grain: Interlocked to irregular
- Texture: Medium to coarse
Identification Characteristics
Indian Kino typically produces golden-brown, reddish-brown, or deeper red-brown heartwood. The color can deepen considerably with age and exposure, producing mature surfaces with rich brown and reddish tones.
Sapwood is typically pale yellowish, cream, or light brown and is clearly differentiated from the darker heartwood. Grain is commonly interlocked, potentially creating ribbon-like figure on quarter-sawn surfaces.
Key identification traits include:
- Golden-brown to reddish-brown heartwood
- Color generally darkens with age
- Pale yellowish to light brown sapwood
- Strong sapwood and heartwood contrast
- Interlocked to irregular grain
- Medium to coarse texture
- Potential ribbon-like figure
Working Properties
Indian Kino is a moderately heavy to heavy hardwood that can require additional effort to machine compared with lighter tropical timbers. Interlocked grain can contribute to tear-out during planing and surfacing, particularly when cutting against reversing fibers.
Sharp cutting tools and lighter machining passes can improve surface quality. The wood can be turned and carved, while careful sanding and finishing can produce an attractive surface that emphasizes its reddish-brown coloration.
- Moderate to high cutting resistance
- Sharp tools are recommended
- Interlocked grain may produce tear-out
- Turns well with appropriate tooling
- Suitable for carving
- Sands and finishes attractively
- Pre-drilling is advisable for fasteners
Safety Note
Detailed information concerning reactions specifically to Indian Kino wood dust is limited. As with other tropical hardwoods, dust generated during sawing, routing, turning, and sanding may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation.
Appropriate dust collection, eye protection, and respiratory protection are recommended during woodworking operations.
Common Uses
Indian Kino combines attractive reddish-brown coloration with useful strength and durability, allowing the wood to be used for numerous woodworking applications, including:
- Furniture
- Cabinetry
- Flooring
- Interior joinery
- Construction
- Agricultural implements
- Wood turning
- Carving
- Decorative woodworking
- Wood collections
Sustainability & Notes
Indian Kino has experienced pressure from timber harvesting, habitat alteration, and exploitation for other traditional uses. Responsible sourcing is therefore important when purchasing lumber or collector specimens.
The species should not be confused with unrelated trees that may also be called kino. The term has historically been applied to various trees producing dark red or reddish plant exudates, making the scientific name particularly important for accurate identification.
For collector material, specimens with documented geographic origin and credible sourcing information are preferable.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Red Sandalwood – Another Indian Pterocarpus known for exceptionally rich red heartwood, high density, specialty uses, and significant conservation and trade concerns.
Narrah – An Asian Pterocarpus valued for reddish-brown coloration, attractive figure, furniture, cabinetry, and decorative woodworking.
African Padauk – A well-known African member of the genus distinguished by vivid orange-red fresh heartwood that gradually develops deeper reddish-brown coloration.
Related Guides
Pterocarpus Species Guide
Explore the Pterocarpus genus and compare Indian Kino with Red Sandalwood, Narrah, African Padauk, Sangre, and other related species based on appearance, distribution, properties, and uses.
Color Changes in Tropical Hardwoods Over Time
Learn why reddish, orange, purple, and other highly colored tropical hardwoods can change dramatically after exposure to light, oxygen, and the surrounding environment.
Understanding Interlocked vs. Straight Grain
Explore how grain orientation influences appearance, figure, machining behavior, strength, and finished surface quality.
Preventing Tear-Out in Interlocked Grain
Learn techniques for reducing torn grain and obtaining cleaner surfaces when planing and machining woods with reversing or interlocked grain.
Best Woods for Wood Flooring
Compare woods used for flooring based on hardness, wear resistance, stability, appearance, durability, and long-term performance.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Indian Kino is an excellent addition to a documented Pterocarpus collection. Its reddish-brown coloration provides a useful comparison with the brilliant red heartwood of Red Sandalwood, the orange-red coloration of African Padauk, and the decorative grain associated with Narrah.
A broader collection of Pterocarpus species can demonstrate how closely related trees produce woods ranging from brilliant orange and crimson to deep reddish brown while differing considerably in density, figure, geographic distribution, and commercial importance.
Collector specimens should retain the scientific name Pterocarpus marsupium, geographic origin, acquisition information, and provenance whenever available.
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Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
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