The bloody woody tree or Pterocarpus angolensis is a teak plant native to South Africa. It is called bloddwood because the wound stems secrete like blood, which is dark red. When you cut the stem, or injure it, its dark red sap immediately comes out covering the wound. This South African native teak is not only known as bloddwood, there are a number of other names that are often used to mention the name of this bloddwood tree. Among other names are Kiaat, Muninga and Mukwa.
This bloodwood plant sap is used for coloring, some people mix it with animal fat for use as facial and beauty cosmetics. The benefits of the bloddwood tree are not only that, its sap which is similar to blood causes some people to believe that it is beneficial for a number of diseases such as ringworm, eye problems, black water fever, stomach aches and as a natural ingredient for increasing breast milk.
Bloodwood wood is very widely used as furniture because it is very easy to glue, easy to carve, and easy to screw well.
In addition, bloodwood is also durable, shrinks slightly when dry, so this condition is very suitable to be used as a material for building boats, canoes, boats, and bathroom floors.
This sizeable benefit causes the African community to harvest on a large scale so that this plant is headed for scarcity. This continuous harvesting process has almost eliminated this tree from their lives. It grows to a height of 12 to 18 meters with the characteristics of its leathery brown bark, flower flowers and an umbrella-shaped crown and is very beautiful. Here are some pictures of bloodwood which are now decreasing in number.
In fact, the use of such large natural products must be balanced by stable planting. So that every time it is harvested there are new trees that replace it.
If this is managed properly, this natural resource will not be lost. Bloodwood wood is a natural resource that can be renewed, why can’t it be promoted as an important local crop to produce for the local community.
Also see: What is Papaturro Tree
The Bloodwood Tree
Also see: Lotus Tree: Facts, Uses and Benefits
Credit img: http://soundandfair.com/fsc-100-wood/fsc-100-east-african-padauk/
