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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:
| Name | Colour | Density 1 | Location | Characteristics and usage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aini | Yellowish brown | 595 kg/m3 | Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, TamilNadu, Kerala | Elastic, close-grained, and strong. It takes polish. It can be used under water. It is used for ordinary building construction, structural work, paving, furniture, etc. |
| Arjun | Dark brown | 870 kg/m3 | Central India | It is heavy and strong. It is used for beams, rafters, posts, etc. |
| Axlewood | 930 kg/m3 | Andhra Pradesh, TamilNadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh | It is very strong, hard and tough. It takes a smooth finish. It is liable to cracking. | |
| Babul | Whitish red | 835 kg/m3 | Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, TamilNadu, Bengal, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh | It is strong, hard and tough. It takes up a good polish. It is used bodies and wheels of bullock carts, agricultural instruments, tool handles, well curbs, etc. |
| Bakul | Reddish brown | 880 kg/m3 | Some parts of North India | It is close-grained and tough. It is used for making cabinets. |
| Bamboo | Throughout India, especially Assam and Bengal | It is an endogenous tree. It is flexible, very strong and durable. It is used for scaffoldings, thatched roofs, rafters, temporary bridges, etc. | ||
| Banyan | 580 kg/3 | Throughout India | Its colour is brown. It is strong and durable only under water. It is used for aerial roots for tent poles, well curbs, etc. | |
| Benteak | 675 kg/m3 | Kerala, Madras, Maharashtra | It is strong and takes up a smooth surface. It is used for building constructions, boat construction, furniture, etc. | |
| Bijasal | Light brown | 800 kg/m3 | Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, TamilNadu, Orissa | It is coarse-grained, durable and strong. It is difficult to work. White ants do not easily attack it. It is used for ordinary building construction, cart wheels, etc. |
| Casuarina | Reddish brown | 765 kg/m3 | TamilNadu | It grows straight. It is strong and fibrous. It is, however, badly twisted. It is used for scaffolding, posts for temporary structures, etc. |
| Deodar Cedar | Yellowish brown | 560 kg/m3 | Himalayas, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh | It is the most important timber tree providing soft wood. It can be easily worked. It possesses distinct annual rings. It is moderately strong. It is used for making cheap furniture, railway carriages, railway sleepers, packing boxes, structural work, etc. |
| Guava | Yellowish brown | 560 kg/m3 | Himalayas, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh | It is the most important timber tree providing soft wood. It can be easily worked. It possesses distinct annual rings. It is moderately strong. It is used for making cheap furniture, railway carriages, railway sleepers, packing boxes, structural work, etc. |
| Gumar | Pale yellow | 580 kg/m3 | Central India, South India | It can be easily worked. It is strong and durable especially when used under water. It is used for furniture, carriage, well curbs, yokes, door panels, etc. |
| Hopea | Light to deep brown | 1010 kg/m3 | Madras, Kerala | It is extremely strong and tough. It is difficult to work. It is durable and not likely to be damaged by white ants. It can be seasoned easily. It is used for ordinary house construction, railway sleepers, piles, boat building, etc. |
| Indian elm | Red | 960 kg/m3 | Throughout India | It is moderately hard and strong. It is used for door and window frames, carts, etc. |
| Ironwood | Reddish brown | 1040 kg/m3 | It is durable. 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, railway sleepers, etc. | |
| Irul | 835 kg/m3 | Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, TamilNadu | It is very hard, heavy and durable. It is difficult to work. It requires slow and careful seasoning. It is used for railway sleepers, agricultural instruments, paving blocks, heavy construction, etc. | |
| Jack | Yellow, darkens with age | 595 kg/m3 | Maharashtra, TamilNadu | It is compact and even grained. It is moderately strong. It is easy to work. It takes a good finish. It maintains its shape well. It is used for plain furniture, boat construction, well curbs, door panels, cabinet making, musical instruments, etc. |
| Jarul | Light reddish gray | 640 kg/m3 | Assam, Bengal, Maharashtra | It is hard and durable. It can be easily worked. It takes a good finish. It is used for house construction, boat building, railway carriages, cart making, scaffolding, etc. |
| Kathal | Yellow to deep brown | Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, TamilNadu | It is heavy and hard. It is durable under water and in damp conditions. It cracks, if exposed directly to sun. White ants do not attack it. It is used for piles, platforms of wooden bridges, door and window panels, etc. | |
| Laurel | Dark brown | 880 kg/m3 | Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, TamilNadu | It is strong, hard and tough. It is likely to crack and to attack of dry rot. White ants do not attack it. It takes a smooth finish. It is used for house construction, boat construction, railway sleepers, structural work, etc. |
| Mahogany | Reddish brown | 720 kg/m3 | It takes a good polish. It is easily worked. It is durable under water. It is used for furniture, pattern making, cabinet work, etc. | |
| Mango | Deep gray | 655 kg/m3 | Throughout India | The mango tree is well known for its fruits. It is easy to work. It maintains its shape well. It is moderately strong. It is used for cheap furniture, toys, packing boxes, cabinet work, panels for doors and windows, etc. |
| Mulberry | Brown | 650 kg/m3 | Punjab | It is strong, tough and elastic. It takes up a clean finish. It can be well seasoned. It is turned and carved easily. It is used baskets and sports goods like hockey sticks, tennis rackets, cricket bats, etc. |
| Oak | ||||
| Palms | ||||
| Pine | ||||
| Red cedar | ||||
| Rosewood or blackwood | ||||
| Sal | ||||
| Sandalwood | ||||
| Satin wood | ||||
| Simul | ||||
| Siris | ||||
| Sissoo | ||||
| Spruce | ||||
| Sundri | ||||
| Tamarind | ||||
| Teak | ||||
| Toon |
1 After seasoning at 12% moisture content
Lists of trees | Forestry | Wood | India
"List of Indian timber trees"