This elegant orange brown hardwood tree is found primarily in central and tropical West Africa in areas extending from south-western Nigeria to Zaire. Padauk (pterocarpus soyauxil) often grows in small groups and is common in dense equatorial rain forests. It is also known as Mbe, Mbil, Mututi, Ngula, and Bosulu. The Padauk tree is quite large and grows to height of 100 to 130 feet, clear of branches to 70 ft., and has trunk diameters from 24 to 60 inches. Padauk possesses excellent weathering properties and will last for more than 25 years in contact with the ground without any preservative treatments.