List of Indian timber trees

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There are over 150 species of timber which are produced in India. Following are the chief varieties of timber trees which are used for engineering purposes in India: Binomial nomenclature Characteristics, Usage and Status

Common name

Colour

Density

Location

Aini or Aangili

Artocarpus hirsutus

Yellowis 595 kg/m h brown

Elastic, close-grained, and strong. It takes polish. It can be Maharashtra,Andhra used underwater. It is Pradesh,Tamil used for ordinary building Nadu,Karnataka, Kerala construction, structural work, paving, furniture an d so forth.

Arjun

Terminalia Dark arjunaTerminalia 870 kg/m brown[1] elliptica

Central India

It is heavy and strong. It has such uses as beams, rafters, and posts.

Axlewood

Anogeissus latifolia

930 kg/m

Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra,Madhya Pradesh,Bihar, Uttar Pradesh

It is very strong, hard and tough. It takes a smooth finish. It is subject to cracking.

Babul

Acacia Whitish niloticasubsp. indi red ca

835 kg/m

Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bengal,Guja rat, Uttar Pradesh

It is strong, hard and tough and it takes up a good polish. It is used for such products as bodies and wheels of bullock cart, agricultural instruments, tool handles, and well curbs.

Bakul

Mimusops elengiMimusops parvifolia[2]

Reddish 880 kg/m brown

Some parts of North India

It is close-grained and tough. It is used for making cabinets.

Bamboo

FamilyPoaceae, tribe Bambuseae

Throughout India, especially Assamand Bengal

Not actually a tree, but a woody grass, it is flexible, very strong and durable. It is used for scaffoldings, thatched roofs, rafters, temporary

bridges, and so forth.

Banyan

Ficus benghalensis

Brown

580 kg/m

Throughout India

It is strong and durable only under water. The aerial roots are utilized for such items as tent poles and well curbs.

Benteak

Lagerstoemia parviflora

675 kg/m

It is strong and takes up a smooth surface. It may be Kerala, Madras, used for building Maharashtra, Karnataka constructions, boat building and furniture.

Bijasal

Pterocarpus marsupium

Light brown

800 kg/m

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa

It is coarse-grained, durable and strong but difficult to work. Termites (also known as white ant) do not easily attack it. It is used for ordinary building construction and for cart wheels.Vulnerab le[3]

Casuarina

Casuarinaspp.

Reddish 765 kg/m brown

Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

It grows straight. It is strong and fibrous. It is, however, badly twisted. It is often used for scaffolding and posts for temporary structures.

Coconut

Cocos nucifera

Reddish brown

Throughout coastal India

Takes polish. Requires preservative treatment. Used as poles, piles, furniture and as formwork in concrete construction.

Deodar

Cedrus deodara

Yellowis 560 kg/m h brown

Himalayas, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh

Deodar is the most important timber tree providing soft wood. It can be easily worked and it is moderately strong. It possesses distinct annual rings. It is used for making cheap furniture, railway carriages, railway sleepers, packing boxes, structural work and so forth.

Gambar

Gmelina arborea

Pale yellow

580 kg/m

Central India, South India

It can be easily worked and is strong and durable especially when used under water. It is used for such products as furniture, carriage, well curbs, yokes, and door panels.

Hopea

Hopea parviflora

Light to deep brown

1010 kg/m

Madras, Kerala

Hopea is extremely strong and tough. It is difficult to work. However, it can be seasoned easily and it is durable and not likely to be damaged by white ants. It has been variously used for ordinary house construction, railway sleepers, piles, and boat building. Endangered[4]

Himalayan Elm, Indian Elm

Ulmus wallichiana

Red

960 kg/m

Throughout India

It is moderately hard and strong. It is used for door and window frames, carts, and so forth.

Ironwood, Penaga Lilin, Mesua ferrea Bosneak, Gangaw, Mesua

Reddish 960 brown[5] 1060 kg/m[6]

Ironwood is durable though it is very hard and is not easily worked. It even resists penetration of nails. It is used for ordinary house construction, bridges, piles, agricultural instruments, railway wagons, and railway sleepers.

Irul, Pyinkado

Xylia xylocarpa

830 1060 kg/m[7]

Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu

It is very hard, heavy and durable. Difficult to work, it also requires slow and careful seasoning. It is used for railway sleepers, agricultural instruments, paving blocks, and heavy construction.Least concern[8]

Jack

Mangifera caesia. Yellow, darkens

595 kg/m

Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil

It is compact and even grained. It is moderately strong and easy to work.

with age

Nadu, Kerala

It takes a good finish and maintains its shape well. It has many uses including plain furniture, boat construction, well curbs, door panels, cabinet making and musical instruments.

Jarul

Light Lagerstroemiaflos reddish -reginae gray

640 kg/m

Assam, Bengal, Maharashtra

Hard and durable, it can be easily worked. It takes a good finish and is used for house construction, boat building, railway carriages, cart making and scaffolding.

Kathal, Artocarpus Keledang,[9]Jackfr heterophyllus uit

Yellow to deep brown

800 kg/m

[9]

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu

It is heavy and hard. It is durable under water and in damp conditions, however, it cracks if exposed to direct sun. White ants do not attack it. It is used for piles, platforms of wooden bridges, door and window panels.

Lauraceae, Saj

Lauraceae

Dark 880 kg/m brown[10]

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu

It is strong, hard and tough. It is subject to cracking and attack by dry rot. White ants do not attack it. It takes a smooth finish. It is used for such purposes as house construction, boat construction, railway sleepers and structural work.

Mahogany

Swietenia spp.

Reddish 720 kg/m brown

It takes a good polish and is easily worked. It is durable under water. It is most commonly used for furniture, pattern making and cabinet work.

Mango

Mangiferaspp.

Deep gray

560 720 kg/m[11]

Throughout India

The mango tree is well known for its fruits. It is easy to work and it maintains its shape well. It is moderately strong. It is most often used for cheap furniture, toys,

packing boxes, cabinet work, panels for doors and for windows.

Mulberry

Morus spp.

Brown

650 kg/m

Punjab

It is strong, tough and elastic. It takes up a clean finish. It can be well seasoned. It is turned and carved easily. Mulberry is typically used for baskets and sports goods like hockey sticks, tennis rackets and cricket bats.

Oak

Quercus spp.

Yellowis 865 kg/m h brown

Oak is strong and durable, with straight silvery grain. It is used for preparing sporting goods.

Palm

Arecaceae

Dark brown

1040 kg/m

Throughout India

It contains ripe wood in the outer crust. The colour of this ripened wood is dark brown. It is strong, durable and fibrous. Palm is used for furniture, roof covering, rafters and joists.

Pine

Pinus spp.

Pine wood is hard and tough except white pine which is soft. It decays easily if it comes into contact with soil. It is heavy and coarse grained. It is used for pattern making, frames for doors and windows, and for paving material. White pine is light and straight grained and is used in the manufacture of matches.

Red cedar

Red

[1]

480 kg/m

Assam, Nagpur

It is soft and even grained. It is used for furniture, door panels and well curbs.

Rosewood

Dalbergia latifolia

Dark

[1]

850 kg/m

[12]

Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,

It is strong, tough and close-grained. It is a handsome wood that takes up a high polish. It maintains its shape well

Orrissa

and is available in large sizes. It is used for furniture of superior quality, cabinet work, ornamental carvings and so forth. Vulnerable[13]

Sal

Shorea robusta

Brown[1]

880 1050 kg/m[14]

It is hard, fibrous and close-grained. It does not take up a good polish. It Karnataka, Andhra requires slow and careful Pradesh, Maharashtra, seasoning. It is durable Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, under ground and water. Madhya Pradesh, Orissa It is used for railway sleepers, shipbuilding, and bridges.

Sandalwood

Santalum spp.

White or 930 kg/m Red

It has a pleasant smell. It Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, is commonly used for Kerala, Assam, Nagpur, agricultural instruments, Bengal well curbs, wheels, and mallets. Vulnerable[15]

Satinwood

Chloroxylon swietenia

Yellow[1
6]

960 kg/m

Central and Southern India

It is very hard and durable. It is close grained. It is used for furniture and other ornamental works. Vulnerable[17]

Simul

Bombax spp.

White

450 kg/m

All over India

It is a loose grained, inferior quality wood. Light in weight, it is used for packing cases, the match industry, well curbs, and for cheap furniture.

Siris

Albizia spp.

Dark brown

North India

Hard and durable, Siris wood is difficult to work. It is used for well curbs in salty water, beams, posts, and furniture.

Sissoo

Dalbergia sissoo

Dark 770 kg/m brown[1]

Mysore, Maharashtra, Assam, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa

Also known as shisham or tali, this wood is strong and tough. It is durable and handsome and it maintains its shape well. It can be easily seasoned. It is difficult to work but it takes a fine polish. It is

used for high quality furniture, plywoods, bridge piles, sport goods, railway sleepers and so forth. It is a very good material for decorative works and carvings.

Spruce

Picea spp.

480 kg/m

Spruce wood resists decay and is not affected by the attack of marine borers. It is however liable to shrink, twist and warp. It is used for piles under water and (formerly) for aeroplane construction.

Sundri

Heritiera fomes

Dark red 960 kg/m

Bengal

It is hard and tough. It is difficult to season and work. It is elastic and close grained. It is strong and durable. These qualities make it suited for such uses as boat building, piles, poles, tool handles, and carriage shafts.

Tamarind

Tamarindus indica

Dark brown

1280 kg/m[citat
ion needed]

All over India

Tamarind is knotty and durable. It is a beautiful tree for avenue and gardens. Its development is very slow but it ultimately forms a massive appearance. Its fruit is also very useful. It is used for agricultural instruments, well curbs, sugar mills, carts and brick burning.

Teak

Tectona grandis

Deep yellow 639 kg/m[19] to dark brown[18]

Central India and Southern India

Moderately hard, teak is durable and fire-resistant. It can be easily seasoned and worked. It takes up a good polish and is not attacked by white ants and dry rot. It does not corrode iron fastenings and it shrinks little. It is among the most valuable timber trees of the world and its use is limited to superior work only.

Toon, Red Cedar[20]

Toona ciliata

Reddish brown or 450 kg/m[20] dull red[1]

Assam

It can be easily worked. It is light in weight. It is used for such products as furniture, packing boxes, cabinet making and door panels.

After seasoning at 12% moisture content

Flora of Madhya Pradesh

Indian Mangrove

Caucasian Maple Himalayan Maple Singkrang Lobed-leaf Alangium Sage Leaved Alangium Wild Mango Netted Custard Apple Sugar Apple Mango Kakkar Brazilian Pepper Cashew Chironji Tree Indian Ash Tree Ylang Ylang Ashok Batino Crape Jasmine Mexican Oleander Woolly Dyeing Rosebay Frangipani pink Frangipani red Nag Kuda Madagascar Palm White Frangipani Common White Frangipani

Devil Tree Sea Mango Indrajao Peacock Chaste Tree Chaste Tree Tree of Life Asian Bushbeech Parrot's Beak Teak West Indian Elm East-Indian Screw Tree Looking Glass Mangrove Bothi Scarlet Sterculia Pale Sterculia Buddha Coconut Java Olive Spotted Sterculia Large Leaf Looking Glass Tree Guest Tree Kanak Champa Fiddlewood Arni Gamhar Wild Tamarind Moulmein Rosewood Pongam Tree Badminton Ball Tree Tree Bean Jerusalem Thorn Jhand Algaroba Prickly Padauk White Locust Tree Rain Tree Agati

Common Sesban Tipu Tree Sweet Chestnut Woolly Leaved Oak Blackjack Oak Governor's Plum Coffee Plum Mountain Sweet Thorn Chhal Mogra Fried Egg Tree Dandal Ginkgo Himalayan Tree Hydrangea Pisa Nelthare Indian Bay Leaf Cinnamon Meda