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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Schima wallichii Trade Name Needlewood Family Name Theaceae Common Names Chilauni, Chinese guger tree, Laukya, Mangtan, Medang gatal, Needlewood, Puspa, Ta lo Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam Common Uses Crossties, Decorative plywood, Planks, Plywood, Rafters, Railroad ties, Roofing, Shakes, Shingles, Siding, Structural plywood, Utility plywood Environmental Profile Very little threat to its survival in immediate future Relatively secure within its natural growth range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Species in the Schima genus are reported to occur in Southeast Asia, China, Formosa, and the Philippines. S. wallachii grows in India, and is found in the sub-Himalayan tract from Nepal eastward at elevations of up to 4500 feet (1500 m). It is also found in the Khasi hills, Manipur, Chittagong hills, and grows in upper Burma. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Purple Green/grey Orange May have darker streaks Light reddish-brown to yellowish-brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Not clearly differentiated from the heartwood Light grayish-white Grain Even Figure Irregular Straight Interlocked Straight to interlocked Irregular Texture Medium Coarse Fine Fine Even textured Luster Medium Low Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Very little natural resistance to decay in ground contact Not readily attacked by insects Odor No distinct odor or taste Toxicity Needle-Like crystals can cause skin irritation in some individuals Drying Defects Degrade due to warping and checking may be severe in some material Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Volumetris shrinkage for this species is unusually high (20.1%) Kiln drying gives better results Difficult to season and is highly prone to severe degrade Conversion in the green condition followed by proper stacking under cover is recommended for air-seasoning Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Bores readily with ordinary tools, with very good results Carving Responds readily to carving operations Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Very good mortising characteristics Moulding Very good moulding properties Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Responds well to most machine tools to produce a relatively smooth finish Can be planed to a smooth finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is treatable Incising improves heartwood absorption and retention of chemicals Difficult to treat with presevatives Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Routs well Sanding Yields relatively smooth surfaces Sands readily Turning Yields clean surfaces Good response to turning operations Polishing Fair to Good Results Takes a fine polish Strength Properties Resists wearing, denting and marring fairly well Heavy Density=High Crushing strength = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength in air-dried condition...is strong Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7742 14014 psi Density 40 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1220 lbs Impact Strength 30 26 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3704 7492 psi Stiffness 1333 1931 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.53 0.62 Weight 57 39 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 20 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 544 985 kg/cm2 Density 641 kg/m3 Hardness 553 kg Impact Strength 76 65 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 260 526 kg/cm2 Stiffness 93 135 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.53 0.62 Weight 913 624 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Chowdhury, K.A. and S.S. Ghosh. 1958. Indian Woods - Their Identification, Properties and Uses, Volume I - Dilleniaceae to Elaeocarpaceae. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia. Limaye, V.D. 1954. Grouping of Indian Timbers and their Properties, Uses and Suitability. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 2, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India. Limaye, V.D. and B.R. Sen. 1953. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 4, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India. WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.