In the Carolyn Islands, finely powdered leaves are applied to a ruptured vagina. It was known throughout Europe from the 16th to early 18th centuries for its reputed diuretic properties but is no longer employed in medicine. However, infusions of the wood are fluorescent, and this odd response to light may have been associated with remedies. Chemistry Wood contains the red coloring matters, narrin and santalin, and angolensin. Narrin is a dark red amorphous powder which yields phloroglucinol and resorcinol on fusion with alkali.
Distilled wood gives a moderately heavy tar.
Inflorescences of laxly branched axillary panicles, sometimes together with a terminal one or with axillary racemes. Wing more or less membranaceous. Germplasm Reported from the Hindustani and Indochina-Indonesian Centers of Diversity, Malay Padauk, or cvs thereof, is reported to tolerate waterlogging. The variety echinatus differs only in having prickles on the seed bearing part of the fruit. It does poorly in lalang wasts, shallow soils, and stiff clays.