Mango
Mango (Mangifera indica) is a species of flowering plant in the sumac and poison ivy family Anacardiaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent.
Hundreds of cultivated varieties have been introduced to other warm regions of the world. It is a large fruit-tree, capable of a growing to a height and crown width of about 100 feet (30 meters) and trunk circumference of more than 12 ft (3.7 meters). Mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan and the Philippines and the national tree of Bangladesh.
More known for its fruit rather than for its timber, however, mango trees can be converted to lumber once their fruit bearing lifespan has finished. The wood is susceptible to damage from fungi and insects. The wood is used for musical instruments such as ukuleles, plywood and low-cost furniture.
Mango is among the most common woodworking choices in Hawaii because of the tree's prevalence, the wood's ease of use, and the beauty of it's golden grain. Mango often has tight curl in wood from the trunk, branch intersections, and thick elbow joints.
If the tree or legs were left dead and grounded for more than a few weeks the wood can often have beautiful unique staining and zone line spalting from several different fungi. The most likely species we suspect are turkey tail (trametes versicolor) for the bleached patches and dark zone lines, dead man's fingers (xyleria polymorpha) for zone lines, scytalidium cuboideum for small pink patches and streaks.
The wood is also known to produce phenolic substances that can cause contact dermatitis. This includes breathing the sawdust, so please make sure you are not prone to allergic reaction before diving into a dusty project! We have heard if you are allergic to other sumacs, poison oak or ivy, you are more likely to be have a reaction to mango, and repeated exposure has reverse tolerance. Though none of us at Kalani Hardwoods has ever had or seen an allergic reaction to mango personally, make sure to keep safety third.
Janka Hardness: 1,070 lbf (4,780 N)
Average Dried Weight: 42 lbs/ft3 (675 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity: .52
Mango (Mangifera indica) wood casket by Pahiki Eco Caskets.
Mango (Mangifera indica) wood with zone line spalting.
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