Common name

Binomial nomenclature

Characteristics, Usage and Status

Aini or Aangili

Artocarpus hirsutus

Elastic, close-grained, and strong. It takes polish. It can be used underwater. It is used for ordinary building construction, structural work, paving, furniture and so forth.

Arjun

Terminalia arjuna

Terminalia elliptica

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

Axlewood

Anogeissus latifolia

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

Babul

Acacia nilotica

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 elengi

Mimusops parvifolia

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

Bamboo

Family Poaceae, tribe Bambuseae

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

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

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

Bijasal

Pterocarpus marsupium

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. Vulnerable.

Casuarina

Casuarinaspp.

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

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

Deodar

Cedrus deodara

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

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

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.

Himalayan Elm, Indian Elm

Ulmus wallichiana

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

Ironwood, Penaga Lilin,

Bosneak, Gangaw, Mesua

Mesua ferrea

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

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.

Jack

Mangifera caesia.

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

Lagerstroemiaflos-reginae

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, Keledang,Jackfruit

Artocarpus heterophyllus

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

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

Swieteniaspp.

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

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

Morusspp.

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

Quercusspp.

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

Palm

Arecaceae

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

Pinusspp.

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

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

Rosewood

Dalbergia latifolia

It is strong, tough and close-grained. It is a handsome wood that takes up a high polish. It maintains its shape well and is available in large sizes. It is used for furniture of superior quality, cabinet work, ornamental carvings and so forth.Vulnerable.

Sal

Shorea robusta

It is hard, fibrous and close-grained. It does not take up a good polish. It requires slow and careful seasoning. It is durable underground and water. It is used for railway sleepers, shipbuilding, and bridges.

Sandalwood

Santalumspp.

It has a pleasant smell. It is commonly used for agricultural instruments, well curbs, wheels, and mallets. Vulnerable.

Satinwood

Chloroxylon swietenia

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

Simul

Bombaxspp.

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

Albiziaspp.

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

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

Piceaspp.

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

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

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

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

Toona ciliata

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.