padouk

Padouk (or padauk) is a name for any of a group of timbers of Asian or African origin. Padouk is valued for its toughness, stability in use, and decorativeness, most varieties having a reddish colour.

The padouk found most often is African padouk which, when freshly cut, is a very bright red but when exposed to sunlight fades over time to a warm brown. Its colour makes it a favorite among woodworkers. Padouk can be confused with rosewood (to which it is related) but as a general rule padouk is coarser and are somewhat less decorative in figure.