Sangre
Scientific name: Pterocarpus rohrii
Overview
Sangre is a tropical hardwood belonging to the Fabaceae family and the Pterocarpus genus, a group that includes several well-known red-colored woods such as padauk and narra. Pterocarpus rohrii is native to tropical regions of the Americas, occurring from Mexico and Central America through parts of the Caribbean and northern South America.
The wood is best known for its warm reddish to reddish-brown coloration, which helps explain the regional name Sangre, meaning “blood” in Spanish. Although it is much less familiar in the international lumber trade than African Padauk or Narra, Sangre can produce attractive wood suitable for furniture, cabinetry, turning, carving, decorative work, and other specialty applications. Its relative obscurity also makes properly identified material particularly interesting for wood collectors.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Sangre
- Scientific Name: Pterocarpus rohrii
- Region: Central American Hardwoods / Tropical Americas
- Tree Size: Approximately 50–100 ft (15–30 m) tall, with trunk dimensions varying considerably by growing conditions
- Average Dried Weight: Reliable species-specific data is limited
- Janka Hardness: Reliable species-specific value not widely documented
- Grain: Straight to interlocked
- Texture: Medium
Identification Characteristics
Sangre typically produces heartwood ranging from warm reddish brown to deeper red-brown, sometimes with darker streaks or localized color variation. The sapwood is considerably paler and can provide noticeable contrast with mature heartwood.
Grain can range from straight to interlocked, with interlocked sections potentially producing ribbon-like figure on quarter-sawn surfaces. Texture is generally medium, and finished surfaces can develop an attractive natural luster.
Key identification traits include:
- Reddish to reddish-brown heartwood
- Paler contrasting sapwood
- Straight to interlocked grain
- Medium texture
- Occasional darker streaking
- Potential ribbon figure
- Attractive natural luster when finished
Working Properties
Sangre generally responds well to normal woodworking operations when sharp cutting tools are used. Straight-grained material should machine relatively cleanly, while interlocked grain can produce tear-out during planing and other surfacing operations.
The wood can be turned, carved, sanded, and polished to an attractive surface. As with other colorful tropical hardwoods, testing finishes on scrap material is advisable when preservation of the natural coloration is important.
- Machines reasonably well with sharp tools
- Turns well
- Carves well
- Sands to a smooth surface
- Polishes attractively
- Interlocked grain may cause tear-out
- Pre-drilling may be advisable near board edges
Safety Note
Wood dust from tropical Pterocarpus species may cause skin, eye, or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals. Appropriate dust collection, respiratory protection, and eye protection are recommended during cutting, machining, and sanding.
Common Uses
Its reddish coloration, attractive grain, and suitability for detailed woodworking make Sangre particularly appropriate for decorative and specialty applications, including:
- Furniture
- Cabinetry
- Decorative woodworking
- Turned objects
- Carvings
- Interior joinery
- Small boxes
- Craft items
- Specialty woodworking
- Wood collections
Sustainability & Notes
Sangre occurs across tropical American forests rather than being one of the major internationally traded Pterocarpus timbers. Its limited presence in commercial lumber markets means that species-specific information about its physical and mechanical properties is less extensive than for major commercial woods.
When purchasing lesser-known tropical hardwoods, accurate botanical identification and documented geographic origin are particularly valuable. Responsible sourcing helps ensure that material originates from legal and appropriately managed forestry operations rather than undocumented harvesting.
The species is also useful educationally because it demonstrates that the Pterocarpus genus extends well beyond the familiar commercial padauks and contains numerous lesser-known tropical American species.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
Dragon’s Blood Tree – Another tropical American member of the Pterocarpus genus, associated particularly with wet and swampy forests of the Caribbean and tropical Americas.
African Padauk – A much better-known member of the genus, famous for its brilliant orange-red to deep reddish-brown heartwood and widespread use in decorative woodworking.
Narra – An important Asian Pterocarpus wood valued for furniture, cabinetry, decorative veneer, and fine woodworking.
Related Guides
Pterocarpus Species Guide – Explore the Pterocarpus genus and compare the numerous woods associated with padauk, narra, and other red-colored tropical timbers.
Preserving Color in Purpleheart & Padauk – Learn why brightly colored tropical woods change with exposure to light and oxygen and what finishing approaches can help slow those changes.
Understanding Interlocked vs. Straight Grain – Explore how grain orientation affects appearance, machining behavior, strength, and surface quality.
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
Sangre is particularly interesting for collectors because it represents a comparatively obscure tropical American member of the Pterocarpus genus. Authenticated samples are considerably less familiar than African Padauk, Narra, or other commercially important members of the group.
A documented Sangre specimen displayed alongside Dragon’s Blood Tree and other Pterocarpus woods can help illustrate the remarkable geographic and visual diversity of the genus. Because closely related red-colored woods can be difficult to distinguish from small samples alone, provenance and confirmed botanical identification significantly increase the value of a collector specimen.
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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.
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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
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