INDO-MALAYAN WOODS, 431 



called mahoganies which do not have any close relationship to the true 

 mahogany, except, perhaps, that of color. Some of these are: 



Padouk, Andaman redtoood, narra, Philippine mahogany. This is the product 

 of various species of Pterocarpus. It is a very choice furniture wood, but 

 it is, of course, not a mahogany. It does not need to he called a mahogany 

 to find a market. 



Penagah, Palo nutria, HUaog. or Borneo mahogany (CalophyUwn inophyllum L.). 

 This wood does not closely resemble mahogany. It is, in some respects, 

 superior to that wood. 



The tanguile of Xegros, a soft, red-wooded diptcrocarp, has been sold in some places 

 as Philippine mahogany. It is found to be a satisfactory substitute for 

 mahogany in interior finish such as show windows, panels, and hank fur- 

 niture. It should he suitable also tor piano cases and good furniture. 

 Wiesner 2: 058-962; Stevenson 226-249; Iloltzapfiel 01; Boulger 206-210; 



Stone 32—35. 



roisoxors woods. 



Occasionally there are rumors of woods which contain sufficient of a 

 poisonous principle to cause them to be injurious to whoever handles 

 them. Such reports are usually found to be inaccurate, the poisoning 

 being done by other parts of the plant. 



The principal poisonous woods of this part of the world are a few 

 Anacardiacca? which cause a skin irritation similar to that produced by 

 the "poison ivy" and "poison oak" {Rhus spp.) of temperate regions. - 

 These woods are produced by species of Gluta, Eoligarna, Melmotrhoea. 

 Semecarpus, and Swintonia; and they usually arc known by the name of 

 "ringhas" in the Malay region. 



When seasoned, the wood is much less likely to cause poisoning than 

 when fresh. The seriousness of such poisoning is often exaggerated, and 

 many persons are entirely immune to this class of poisoning. 



Besides the woods mentioned, that of Excoeccvria agallocha L.. the 

 -eye-blinding plant'' of India, is of evil repute. The wood contains an 

 extremely acrid dark-colored gum which is very irritant in contact with 

 the skin and. is said to cause blindness if rubbed on the eyes. It is said 

 that the coolies who work this wood for charcoal suffer a great deal from 

 the effects of the fumes of the burning wood. 



KOSKWOOI). 



Kosewood is a term as generally applied as ironwood and to almost 

 as great a variety of plants in different parts of the world. 'There are 

 something more than thirty different rosewoods. Most of them have 

 heavy, dark-colored woods and quite a number belong to the Leguminosas, 

 in such genera as Dalbcrgia and Pterocarpus. Some of them contain 

 a fragrant resin or oil, from which the name has originated. They 

 have nothing more to do with the rose. 



Much of the rosewood of commerce comes from Brazil and is said 

 to be the product of Dalbcrgia nigra Allem. and related leguminous 

 species; but members of other families also produce true rosewood. 



