There are over 150 species of timber which are produced in India. Following are the chief varieties of timber trees which are used for the engineering purposes in India:
(1) Aini:
Its colour is yellowish brown. It is elastic, close-grained and strong. Its weight at 12 per cent moisture content is 5950 N/m3. It takes polish. It can be used under water. It is found in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madras and Kerala.
It is used for ordinary building construction, structural work, paving, furniture, etc.
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(2) Arjun:
Its colour is dark brown. It is heavy and strong. It takes a good polish. Its weight after seasoning is about 8700 N/m3. It is found in Central India.
It is used for beams, rafters, posts, door frames, carts and cart wheels, cattle yokes, well kerbs, etc.
(3) Axlewood:
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It is very strong, hard and tough. Its weight at 12 per cent moisture content is 9300 N/m3. It takes a smooth finish. It is liable to cracking. It is found in Andhra Pradesh, Madras, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
(4) Babul:
It is strong, hard, very durable and tough. Its colour is whitish red. It takes up a good polish. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 8350 N/m3. It is found in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Bengal, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
It is used for bodies and wheels of bullock carts, agricultural instruments, tool handles, well kerbs, sugarcane and oil presses, house and boat building etc.
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(5) Bakul:
Its colour is reddish brown. It is close-grained, very hard, strong, durable and tough. It is found in some parts of North India. Its weight alter seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 8800 N/m3.
It is used for making cabinets, building and bridge construction, piles, etc.
(6) Bamboo:
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It is an endogenous tree. It is flexible, very strong and durable. It is found in abundance in Assam and Bengal. It is also found in most of the part of the country.
It is used for scaffolding, thatched roofs, rafters, temporary bridges, fancy goods, etc.
(7) Banyan:
Its colour is brown. It is strong and durable only under water. Its weight after seasoning is about 5800 N/m3. It is found all over India.
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It is used for aerial roots for tent poles, well kerbs, door panels, etc.
(8) Benteak:
It is strong and takes up a smooth surface. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 6750 N/m3. It is found in Kerala, Madras and Maharashtra.
It is used for building construction, boat construction, furniture, etc.
(9) Bijasal:
Its colour is light brown. It is coarse-grained, durable and strong. It is difficult to work. It is not easily attacked by white ants. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 8000 N/m3. It is found in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, U. P., Madras and Orissa.
It is used for ordinary building construction, cart wheels, etc.
(10) Casuarina:
Its colour is reddish brown. It grows straight. It is strong and fibrous. It is, however, badly twisted. Its weight at 12 percent moisture content is 7650 N/m3 It is found in Madras.
It is used for scaffolding, posts for temporary structures, etc.
(11) Deodar:
Its colour is yellowish brown. 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 strongly scented, oily, very durable and polishes well. Its weight, after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 5600 N/m3. It is found in Himalayas, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
It is used for making cheap and rough furniture, railway carnages, railway sleepers, packing boxes, structural work, etc.
(12) Guava:
It is fine grained. It is hard, tough and flexible. It colour is greyish brown. It is not very strong. It can be easily worked. Its weight after seasoning is about 7500 N/m3. It is practically found all over India.
It is used for making toys, handles of instruments, engraving work, etc.
(13) Gumar:
Its colour is pale yellow. It can be easily worked. It is strong and durable especially when used under water. Its weight after seasoning is about 5800 N/m3. It is found in Central India and South India.
It is used for furniture, carriages, well kerbs, yokes, door panels, wood pulp, boxes, gunstocks, etc.
(14) Hopea:
Its colour is light to deep brown. 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. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 10.10 kN/m3. It is found in Madras and Kerala.
It is used for ordinary house construction, railway sleepers, piles, boat building, etc.
(15) Indian Elm:
Its colour is red. It is moderately hard and strong. Its weight after seasoning is about 9600 N/m3. It is practically found all over India.
It is used for door and window frames, carts, yokes, agricultural tools, etc.
(16) Iron Wood:
Its colour is reddish brown. It is durable. It is very hard and is not easily worked. It even resists penetration of nails. Its weight after seasoning is about 10.40 kN/m3.
It is used for ordinary house construction, bridges, piles, agricultural instruments, railway wagons, railway sleepers, etc.
(17) Irul:
It is very hard, heavy and durable. It is difficult to work. It requires slow and careful seasoning. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 8350 N/m3. It is found in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Madras.
It is used for railway sleepers, agricultural instruments, paving blocks, heavy construction, etc.
(18) Jack:
Its colour is yellow when freshly cut and it darkens with age. 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. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 5950 N/m3. It is found in Maharashtra and Madras.
It is used for plain furniture, boat construction, well kerbs, door panels, cabinet making, musical instruments, etc.
(19) Jarul:
Its colour is light reddish grey. It is hard and durable. It can be easily worked. It takes a good finish. It resists the action of salty water. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 6400 N/m3. It is found in Assam, Bengal and Maharashtra.
It is used for house construction, boat building, railway carriages, cart making, scaffolding, agricultural tools, etc.
(20) Kathal:
Its colour is yellow to deep brown. It is heavy and hard. It is durable under water and in damp conditions. It cracks, if exposed directly to the sun. It is not attacked by white ants. It is found in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Madras.
It is used for piles, platforms of wooden bridges, door and window panels, etc.
(21) Laurel:
Its colour is dark brown. It is strong, hard and tough. It is likely to crack and to the attack of dry rot. It is not attacked by white ants. It takes a smooth finish. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 8800 N/m3. It is found in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Madras.
It is used for house construction, boat construction, railway sleepers, structural work, etc.
(22) Mahogany:
Its colour is shining reddish brown. It takes a good polish. It is easy to work. It is durable under water. Its weight after seasoning is about 7200 N/m3. It is mostly imported from other countries.
It is used for furniture, pattern making, cabinet work, ornamental panelling, fancy goods, etc.
(23) Mango:
The mango tree is very well-known for its fruits. Its colour is deep grey. It is easy to work. It maintains its shape well. It is moderately strong. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 6550 N/m3. It is practically found all over India.
It is used for cheap furniture, toys, packing boxes, ship building, cabinet work, panels for doors and windows, etc.
(24) Mulberry:
Its colour is brown. It is strong, tough and elastic. It takes up a clean finish. It can be well seasoned. It is turned and carved easily. Its weight after seasoning is about 6500 N/m3. It is found in Punjab.
It is used for baskets and sport goods like hockey sticks, tennis rackets, cricket bats, etc.
(25) Oak:
Its colour is yellowish brown. It is strong and durable. It possesses straight silvery grains. Its weight at 12 per cent moisture content is 8650 N/m3.
It is used for preparing the sport goods.
(26) Palms:
It contains ripe wood in the outer crust. The colour of this ripened wood is dark brown. It is strong and durable. It is fibrous. Its weight after seasoning is about 10.40 kN/m3. It is found practically all over India.
It is used for furniture, roof covering, rafters, joists, etc.
(27) Pine:
It is hard and tough except white pine which is soft. It decays easily, if it conies in contact with soil. It is heavy and coarse-grained. The white pine is light and straight grained.
It is used for pattern making, frames for doors and windows, paving material, etc. The white pine is used in the manufacture of matches.
(28) Red Cedar:
Its colour is red. It is soft and even grained. It is durable in moist places and under water. It takes a good polish. Its weight after seasoning is about 4800 N/m3. It is found in Assam and Nagpur.
It is used for furniture, door panels, well kerbs, piles, railway sleepers, bridge construction, etc.
(29) Rosewood or Blackwood:
It is dark in colour. It is strong, tough and close- grained. It is handsome and it takes up a high polish. It maintains its shape well. It is available in large sizes. Its weight after seasoning is about 7900 N/m3. It is found in Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Madras and Orissa.
It is used for furniture of superior quality, cabinet work, ornamental carvings, etc.
(30) Sal:
Its colour is brown. 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. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 8000 N/m3. It is found in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa.
It is used for railway sleepers, wagons, ship building, bridges, structural work, etc. The sal poles are used as the foundation piles.
(31) Sandal:
Its colour is white or red. It gives out pleasant smell. Its weight after seasoning is about 9300 N/m3. It is found in Assam, Nagpur and Bengal.
It is used for agricultural instruments, well kerbs, wheels, mallets, fancy goods, boxes, etc.
(32) Satin Wood:
Its colour is yellow. It is very hard and durable. It is close-grained. Its weight after seasoning is about 9600 N/m3. It is found in Central and Southern India.
It is used for furniture and other ornamental works, tool handles, agricultural instruments, etc.
(33) Simul:
Its colour is white. It is loose grained. It is an inferior quality of wood. It is light in weight and its weight after seasoning is about 4500 N/m3. It is found practically all over India.
It is used for packing cases, match industry, well kerbs, cheap furniture, tea boxes, wood pulp, toys, etc.
(34) Siris:
Its colour is dark brown. It is hard and durable. It is difficult to work. It seasons well and takes a good polish. Its weight after seasoning is about 10.40 kN/m3. It is found in North India.
It is used for well kerbs in salty water, beams, posts, furniture, etc.
(35) Sissoo:
It is also known as the shisham or tali. Its colour is dark brown. It is strong and tough. It is durable and handsome. It maintains its shape well. It can be easily seasoned. It is difficult to work, but it takes a fine polish. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 7700 N/m3. It is found in Mysore, Maharashtra, Assam, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Orissa.
It is used for high class furniture, plywoods, bridge piles, sport goods, railway carriages, etc. It is a very good material for decorative works and carvings.
(36) Spruce:
It resists decay. It is not affected by the attack of marine borers. It is liable to shrink, twist and warp. Its weight at 12% moisture content is 4800 N/m3.
It is used for piles under water, aeroplanes, etc.
(37) Sundri:
Its colour is dark red. It is hard and tough. It is difficult to season and work. It is elastic and close grained. It is strong and durable. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 9600 N/m3. It is found in Bengal.
It is used for boat building, piles, poles, tool handles, carriage shafts, railway sleepers, etc.
(38) Tamarind:
Its colour is dark brown. It is knotty and durable. Its weight after seasoning is about 12.80 kN/m3. It is a beautiful tree for avenue and gardens. Its development is very slow. But it ultimately forms a massive appearance. Its fruits are also very useful. It is found practically all over India.
It is used for agricultural instruments, well kerbs, sugar mills, carts, brick mouldings, etc.
(39) Teak:
Its colour is deep yellow to dark brown. It is moderately hard. It is durable and fire-resistant. It can be easily seasoned and worked. It takes up a good polish. It is not attacked by white ants and dry rot. It does not corrode iron fastenings. It shrinks little. It is among the most valuable timber trees of the world. Its weight after seasoning at 12 per cent moisture content is 6250 N/m3. It is found in Central India and Southern India.
The genus tectona and its species tectona grand is were first named by a Swedish botanist C. Linnaeus in 1781. The name tectona grand is has been taken from the Portuguese word ‘teca’ which is from the Greek word ‘tekton’ meaning a carpenter. The grandis is a Latin word for large and as the qualities of teak wood are much appreciated by carpenters, the literal meaning of teak (tectona grandis) is the carpenter’s pride.
The largest teak tree in the country is the Kannimara teak tree in the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. It has a girth of about 8 m and is about 30 m tall.
The teak is a very durable timber and excellent example of its durability are found in the pieces in the walls of palaces of Persian Kings near Baghdad in Iraq and fixed in the 7th century, cave temples of India some of them over 2000 years old, etc.
It is used for house construction, railway carriages, flooring, structural work, ship building, furniture, mallets, agricultural instruments, well kerbs, piles, etc. Its use is limited to superior work only as it is comparatively very costly.
(40) Toon:
Its colour is reddish brown or dull red. It can be easily worked. It is light in weight and its weight after seasoning is about 5300 N/m3. It is found in Assam.
It is used for furniture, packing boxes, cabinet making, door panels, toys, railway carriages, musical instruments, etc.