Chinese: 蘇木

English: Sappanwood

Scientific Name: Biancaea sappan

Part: Wood

Category: Plant

 

Sappanwood, also known as Caesalpinia sappan, is a flowering tree that is native to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It is also found in parts of South Asia and the Pacific Islands.

 

Sappanwood produces a red dye that is obtained from the heartwood of the tree. The dye, which is often called "Brazilwood" or "Sappanwood red," has been used for centuries as a natural colorant for textiles, leather, and other materials. It produces a range of shades of red, from pinkish-red to deep maroon.

 

In addition to its use as a dye, sappanwood has been used in traditional medicine for various purposes. It is believed to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, and has been used to treat conditions such as traumatic injuries, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea and abdominal pain.

 

Sappanwood is also valued for its ornamental value and is sometimes grown as a garden plant. It is a relatively small tree, growing up to 6 meters tall, with compound leaves and yellow flowers that bloom in the spring.

 

蘇木也稱為蘇方木，是一種會開花的樹，原產於東南亞，包括印度尼西亞、馬來西亞和菲律賓，也生長在於南亞和太平洋島嶼的部分地區。

 

蘇木可生產紅色染料，由樹的心材中獲得。這種染料通常被稱為“蘇木素”或“蘇木紅”，幾個世紀以來一直用作紡織品、皮革和其他材料的天然著色劑。它可製作從粉紅色到深栗色的一系列紅色色調。

 

除了用作染料外，蘇木還被用於傳統醫學。人們認為它具有抗炎、抗菌和抗氧化特性，並已被用於治療跌打損傷、經閉痛經以及心腹疼痛等病症。

 

蘇木還因其觀賞價值而受到重視，有時會作為園林植物種植。它是小喬木，可長到 6 米高，有複葉和黃色花朵，在春天開花。