Few-Flowered Purpleheart
Scientific name: Peltogyne pauciflora
Overview
Few-Flowered Purpleheart is a rare tropical hardwood native to the Amazon Basin of northern Brazil and neighboring portions of South America. A member of the Fabaceae family, it belongs to the Peltogyne genus, a group of hardwoods famous for producing the distinctive purple heartwood that has captivated woodworkers and collectors for generations. The species name pauciflora, meaning “few-flowered,” refers to the tree’s relatively sparse floral clusters compared to other members of the genus.
Like its relatives, Few-Flowered Purpleheart begins with freshly cut heartwood that appears grayish-brown or olive-brown before oxidizing into vibrant violet and deep purple hues after exposure to air. Combined with excellent strength, impressive hardness, and outstanding natural durability, it is an exceptional wood for premium woodworking projects and an uncommon addition to botanical wood collections.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Few-Flowered Purpleheart
- Scientific Name: Peltogyne pauciflora
- Region: South American Hardwoods
- Tree Size: 60–100 ft (18–30 m) tall, 2–3 ft (0.6–0.9 m) trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: Approximately 57 lbs/ft³ (915 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: Approximately 2,520 lbf
- Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked
- Texture: Fine to medium
Identification Characteristics
Freshly cut heartwood ranges from dull grayish-brown to olive-brown before rapidly developing its characteristic violet and deep purple coloration through oxidation. Over time, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light gradually changes the vibrant purple into a rich brownish-purple. The sapwood remains pale cream to yellowish-white and is sharply defined from the heartwood. Grain is generally straight but may occasionally be slightly interlocked, while the texture is fine to medium with a moderate natural luster.
Key identification traits include:
- Fresh heartwood initially grayish-brown
- Oxidizes into vivid violet and deep purple
- Pale cream to yellowish-white sapwood
- Straight to slightly interlocked grain
- Fine to medium texture
- Moderate natural luster
- Excellent natural durability
Working Properties
Few-Flowered Purpleheart works much like other members of the Peltogyne genus. Its density requires sharp carbide tooling for optimal machining. Slightly interlocked grain may occasionally cause tear-out during planing, while turning, sanding, and polishing produce outstanding results. UV-resistant finishes help slow the natural darkening of the purple heartwood over time.
- Machines well with carbide tooling
- Moderately difficult due to density
- Interlocked grain may produce minor tear-out
- Turns exceptionally well
- Excellent polishing characteristics
- Glues well with proper preparation
- Produces a smooth, lustrous finish
Safety Note
Wood dust may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals. Some users may develop mild allergic skin reactions following repeated exposure. Proper dust collection, respiratory protection, and eye protection are recommended during machining and sanding.
Common Uses
Thanks to its striking purple coloration, excellent durability, and attractive finishing qualities, Few-Flowered Purpleheart is used for numerous decorative and specialty woodworking applications, including:
- Fine furniture
- Cabinetry
- Architectural millwork
- Flooring
- Decorative veneers
- Turned objects
- Knife handles
- Musical instruments
- Inlays
- Collector wood specimens
Sustainability & Notes
Few-Flowered Purpleheart occurs within the Amazon rainforest, where responsible forestry practices are essential for maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. Although the species is not commonly harvested separately from other Purpleheart species, continued habitat conservation and sustainable management help preserve both the species and the biodiversity of its native forests.
Commercial lumber identified specifically as Peltogyne pauciflora is uncommon, making authenticated specimens especially valuable to researchers and collectors.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Purpleheart – The best-known commercial Purpleheart species and the benchmark for comparing other members of the Peltogyne genus.
Maranhão Purpleheart – A closely related Brazilian species with nearly identical purple color development and woodworking properties.
Lecointe’s Purpleheart – Another Amazonian Purpleheart valued for its beautiful heartwood and excellent durability.
Related Guides
Preserving Color in Purpleheart & Padauk – Learn how oxidation and ultraviolet exposure affect Purpleheart and how finishes can help preserve its famous purple color.
Finishing Oils vs. Polyurethane on Exotic Species – Compare finishing systems that protect and enhance exotic hardwoods.
How to Identify Exotic Hardwood by Grain Pattern – Learn how grain structure helps distinguish closely related hardwood species.
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
Few-Flowered Purpleheart is an excellent addition to a documented Peltogyne collection because authenticated specimens are seldom encountered in commercial lumber markets. Like other members of the genus, its value lies not only in its spectacular purple heartwood but also in its botanical significance. Displaying this species alongside Purpleheart, Dense-Flowered Purpleheart, Lecointe’s Purpleheart, Maranhão Purpleheart, Recife Purpleheart, and Mexican Purpleheart creates an impressive representation of one of the world’s most distinctive hardwood genera.
Share Your Photos of This Species
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.
Love This Species?
Enjoy learning about this wood species?
Help support the continued growth of Exotic Woods of the World by participating in our Adopt a Species program. Your support helps fund species research, educational content, photography, videos, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Support Forest Conservation
This species is part of the growing Exotic Woods of the World reference archive, dedicated to documenting and preserving knowledge of the world’s wood species.
Through the Adopt a Species program, visitors can help support ongoing species research, educational content, photography, video production, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Contributions help fund the continued expansion of this archive while promoting sustainable forestry education and the long-term appreciation of the world’s forests.
Interested in supporting this species? Visit our Adopt a Species and Conservation Partners pages to learn more.
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.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Share This Wood Species
Stay Connected
Follow the latest species additions, educational resources, videos, conservation initiatives, and major project milestones through our Site Updates archive.
The Site Updates archive provides a permanent record of new content, library growth, and future developments across Exotic Woods of the World.