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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. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Anogeissus latifolia Trade Name Axlewood Family Name Combretaceae Common Names Axlewood Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India Common Uses Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Handles, Hatracks, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Stools, Sucker rods, Tables , Tool handles, Utility furniture, Wardrobes, Wheel spokes Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview One of the dominants (dry deciduous and dry evergreen belts) on the hills (700) 900 - 1100m; less on Pacchaimalais and S.Arcot Kalrayans. Distribution : Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan. It's natural range stretches from the sub-Himalayan tract to the southern tip of India and the island of lava in Indonesia. Its best growth occurs in the Western Ghat forests of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. It has been introduced to Burma, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria, and Kenya . It can be found in large numbers in the Indian regions of Ganjam, Madura, Coimbatore, and South Salem, and also in the sub-montane forests of Uttar Pardesh, South Chanda and Kanara. Heartwood Color Brown Brown Occasionally purplish-brown in color with dark streaks. Sapwood Color Brown Yellow Green Initially pale yellow to yellowish green, and turns grayish-brown with age Grain Closed Wavy Occasionally wavy Interlocked slightly to moderately Texture Fine Fine Luster High Usually lustrous Natural Durability Highly resistant to attack by powder post beetles Fairly durable under cover Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Surface checking, splitting and warping may occur during air-drying Requires very mild kiln-drying schedules to prevent severe surface checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Highly prone to degrade Difficult to dry because of high moisture content Conversion of timber into thin planks and stacking under cover for slow drying is recommended Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter of 4.5 feet (1.8 m) Substitutes Strong and tough Has been suggested as a potential subsitute for Ash (Fraxinus) and Hickory (Carya) Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Fairly difficult to saw The timber is rather difficult to saw since it is hard and tough Gluing Very Good to Excellent Results Takes glue exceptionally well Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Difficult to plane Can be planed to a smooth finish The wood is more difficult to work than Teak (Tectona spp. ) Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Untreatable with preservatives Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Saws readily although it is hard and tough Rather difficult to work with hand tools due to interlocked grain and silica content Turning Fair to Good Results Good turning qualities Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Veneers easily Too heavy for general purpose plywood Responds well to peeling after proper softening Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Retains shape well after seasoning Difficult to bend Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly good polishing characteristics Strength Properties Very high density Very heavy Hard Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high It compares favorably with Teak, which also has high bending strength. Some familiar species with high crushing strength parallel to grain include Hard maple, Teak, and White oak. It is hard and superior to Teak and probably Mahogany Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11809 14705 psi Density 55 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1862 lbs Impact Strength 55 35 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5199 6571 psi Shearing Strength 1867 psi Stiffness 1475 1671 1000 psi Toughness 130 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.64 0.66 Weight 63 54 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 830 1033 kg/cm2 Density 881 kg/m3 Hardness 844 kg Impact Strength 139 88 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 365 461 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 131 kg/cm2 Stiffness 103 117 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 149 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.64 0.66 References Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific and 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. Rao, K.R. and S.K. Purkayastha. 1972. Indian Woods - Their Identification, Properties and Uses, Volume III - Leguminosae to Combretaceae. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India.