Heartwood bright yellowish red to dark brick red, streaked with darker lines, lustrous when freshly cut but becoming a dull but attractive golden brown on exposure; sapwood grayish, narrow. Texture moderately coarse; grain interlocked; has a faint spicy odor.
Rather difficult to saw, especially when dry, and also difficult to work with hand tools, turns well, dresses to a smooth finish, glues satisfactorily
The heartwood is rated as very durable and also resistant to termite attack. Sapwood liable to attack by powder-post beetles.
Heartwood extremely resistant to preservation treatments.
Can be used for decorative flooring, furniture, cabinet work (high class furniture), tool handles, billiard tables, hydraulic works (sea water), industrial or heavy flooring, sliced veneer, sleepers, bridges (parts not in contact with water or ground), vehicle or container flooring, heavy carpentry, ship building (ribs), ship building (planking and deck), turned goods, seats, exterior joinery, stairs (inside),interior joinery, sculpture.