Pau Roxo da Vargem
Scientific name: Peltogyne densiflora
Overview
Pau Roxo da Vargem is a tropical South American hardwood belonging to the Fabaceae family and the Peltogyne genus, the group of trees responsible for the woods collectively known as Purpleheart. Peltogyne densiflora is native to Brazil and represents another distinct species within this colorful and highly recognizable group.
Freshly exposed heartwood may initially appear brown, grayish brown, reddish brown, or only faintly purple. Exposure to air and light promotes oxidation of natural compounds within the wood, allowing stronger violet and purple coloration to develop. With extended aging and ultraviolet exposure, the brilliant purple can gradually deepen toward dark violet, purplish brown, or brown.
Pau Roxo da Vargem is a dense and hard hardwood with decorative potential for furniture accents, turning, carving, inlay, boxes, handles, and other specialty projects. Species-specific timber information is limited compared with generic commercial Purpleheart, making accurate botanical identification particularly important.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Pau Roxo da Vargem
- Alternate Common Names: Jutaí-Mirim, Pau-Roxo, Roxinho, Violeta, Pau Violeta
- Scientific Name: Peltogyne densiflora
- Region: South American Woods
- Tree Size: Medium to large tropical hardwood; mature dimensions vary according to habitat and growing conditions
- Average Dried Weight: Reliable standardized species-specific value is not widely documented
- Janka Hardness: Reliable standardized species-specific value is not widely documented
- Grain: Straight to interlocked or irregular
- Texture: Fine to medium
Identification Characteristics
The developing purple coloration of the heartwood is the most recognizable characteristic of Pau Roxo da Vargem.
Freshly cut surfaces may be surprisingly subdued and can initially display brownish, grayish, or reddish tones. Exposure to oxygen and light gradually encourages stronger violet coloration.
Older surfaces can eventually become considerably darker and shift toward deep purple or purplish brown.
Sapwood is generally cream to pale yellowish brown and contrasts strongly with mature heartwood.
Key identification traits include:
- Brownish or reddish freshly exposed heartwood
- Violet and purple coloration developing after exposure
- Deep purple to purplish-brown aged surfaces
- Pale cream to yellowish sapwood
- Strong heartwood and sapwood contrast
- Straight to interlocked grain
- Fine to medium texture
Working Properties
Pau Roxo da Vargem can be challenging to machine because of its density, hardness, and potentially interlocked grain.
Sharp tools are important, and carbide tooling can be beneficial during repeated machining. Interlocked fibers may tear during planing, while excessive friction can generate substantial heat.
Light cutting passes and careful attention to grain direction can improve surface quality. Once properly prepared, the wood can be sanded and polished to an attractive surface.
- High cutting resistance
- Sharp tooling is recommended
- Carbide tooling can be beneficial
- Interlocked grain may produce tear-out
- Turns well with appropriate equipment
- Sands and polishes attractively
- Pre-drilling is recommended for fasteners
Safety Note
Purpleheart wood dust may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals. Repeated exposure can potentially increase sensitivity.
Effective dust extraction, eye protection, respiratory protection, and appropriate skin protection are recommended during sawing, routing, turning, carving, and sanding.
Common Uses
Where suitable material is available, its natural coloration, density, hardness, and polished appearance make Pau Roxo da Vargem appropriate for applications including:
- Decorative furniture
- Furniture accents
- Cabinetry
- Inlay
- Wood turning
- Carving
- Decorative boxes
- Handles
- Small specialty objects
- Collector specimens
Sustainability & Notes
Pau Roxo da Vargem is one of several South American Peltogyne species whose wood may enter trade under the broad commercial name Purpleheart.
This creates an important identification problem. A commercial Purpleheart board cannot automatically be assumed to represent Peltogyne densiflora, even when its appearance closely resembles documented material from the species.
Responsible forest management, legal harvesting, habitat conservation, and traceable sourcing are important when acquiring tropical hardwoods.
Scientific identification and geographic provenance are especially valuable for lesser-known Peltogyne species because they allow EWW to document the true botanical diversity hidden behind the Purpleheart trade name.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Catinga Purpleheart – A separately identified Peltogyne whose heartwood undergoes the characteristic color development associated with Purpleheart timbers.
Muirabi – Peltogyne discolor, another individually documented species that helps demonstrate why commercial Purpleheart should not automatically be treated as a single wood species.
Dense-Flowered Purpleheart – Another member of the Purpleheart group useful for expanding species-level documentation of Peltogyne woods.
Related Guides
Purpleheart Species Guide
Explore the individual species within Peltogyne and learn how multiple botanically distinct trees contribute to the commercial Purpleheart group.
Preserving Color in Purpleheart & Padauk
Explore finishing, storage, and display practices that may help slow the loss or darkening of brilliant natural coloration.
Understanding Interlocked vs. Straight Grain
Learn how grain orientation influences figure, machining behavior, tear-out, strength, and finished surface quality.
Labeling and Cataloging Wood Samples
Learn how to record scientific names, geographic origin, acquisition dates, provenance, dimensions, and other information for documented wood specimens.
Density & Hardness Explained (Janka Scale Guide)
Understand the difference between wood density and Janka hardness and why related species should not automatically be assigned identical physical-property values.
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
Pau Roxo da Vargem has particular collector value because authenticated species-level Purpleheart specimens are considerably less common than generic commercial samples.
The most educational specimens retain both reliable provenance and an accurate record of their coloration. Photographing a freshly surfaced sample and periodically documenting the same surface as it ages can create a useful visual record of oxidation and long-term color change.
Collector specimens should retain the scientific name Peltogyne densiflora, geographic origin, acquisition date, source, and supporting identification information whenever available.
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Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
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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Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
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Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
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