ironwood tree; Mesua ferrea hardwood
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
evergreen tropical tree (Mesua ferrea) reaching over 30 meters, with lanceolate leaves and white flowers
technicalBotanically known as Mesua ferrea. Native to tropical Asia including southern China, India, and Southeast Asia. The tree is protected in many regions due to overharvesting.
Many century-old ironwood trees grow in the primitive forests of Xishuangbanna.
The ironwood tree blooms in spring, and its white flowers are quite elegant.
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This type of ironwood can grow to over thirty meters tall and is an important timber tree species in tropical regions.
noun
the hard, dark-red timber of the ironwood tree, valued for furniture and construction
technicalExtremely dense hardwood (specific gravity > 1.0, sinks in water). Color ranges from dark reddish-brown to nearly black. Highly resistant to decay, termites, and seawater, making it ideal for shipbuilding and outdoor construction. Historically used for bearings in traditional Chinese architecture.
This set of ironwood furniture has been passed down for three generations and remains as sturdy as ever.
Ironwood is extremely hard in texture, making it very time-consuming and labor-intensive to carve.
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Due to over-harvesting, wild ironwood resources have become extremely scarce.
The old craftsman said that planes made of ironwood are durable and won't warp.