Pheasantwood
Pheasantwood (Senna siamea) also known as Siamese cassia, kassod tree, cassod tree and cassia tree, is a legume in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae.
It is native to South and Southeast Asia, although its exact origin is unknown.
This plant has medicinal value and it contains a compound named barakol. The leaves, tender pods and seeds are edible, but they must be previously boiled and the water discarded. They are used in Burmese and also in Thai cuisine where one of the most well-known preparations is kaeng khilek. In Burmese tradition, during the full moon day of Tazaungmon, Burmese families pick Siamese cassia buds and prepare it in a salad called mezali phu thoke or in a soup. Other uses include as fodder plant, in intercropping systems, windbreaks, and shelter belts. As a hardwood, it is used for ornamentation on instruments (ukeleles and guitars) and decorative products. In this capacity it is known as pheasantwood or polohala, named for the similarity of the grain to pheasant feathers. It is sometimes used in Chinese furniture (known as jichimu) interchangeably with wood from the Ormosia species.
Janka Hardness: 1,490 lbf (6,640 N)
Average Dried Weight: 50 lbs/ft3 (800 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity: .62
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