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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 Comments 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 Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Tamarindus indica Trade Name Camalindo Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Ajagbo, Ajagbon, Ambli, Amli, Amlika, Asam, Camalindo, Chicha, Chinch, Chinta, Chita, Chitz, Chwaa, Darachi, Hitta, Hunase, Icheku, Imili, Imli, Indian date, Iti, Jatami, Jojo, Jojo's, Kalamendo, Kamal, Kamalindo, Karangi, Keditia, Khenthiri, Kopu, Koya, Magyeng, Magyi, Mkwadju, Mkwaju, Msisa, Msisi, Mukoge, Munondo, Museka, Musika, Muthithi, Muthumura, Mzumusa, Neddi, Ol-masamburai, Puli, Samia, Shenta, Sitta, Siyembela, Taman, Tamarese, Tamarin, Tamarind, Tamarind tree, Tamarindade, Tamarinde, Tamarindier, Tamarindo, Tamarinier, Tamsugu, Tentul, Tentuli, Tenturi, Tetar, Teteli, Tetui, Tetuli, Tintil, Tintiri, Tintul, Tintuli, Titri, Tsamia, Tsamiya, Udeguegor Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Burma, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Barge fenders, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Docks, Dockwork, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Golf club heads, Harbor work, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Naval architecture, Office furniture, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Walking sticks, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed It is cultivated in many areas with favorable tropical climates Distribution Overview Probably a cultigen which is native to the drier savannah regions of tropical Africa. It is a naturalized species throughout the West Indies and from Mexico to Brazil. It is also cultivated in southern Florida, including the Florida Keys, and in Bermuda. It is planted as an ornament in Puerto Rico, and is occasionally naturalized. It is cultivated throughout India except in the extremely dry western zone, and is found by road sides and frequently in the wild. also common in the drier parts of Burma. It occurs in the savannah forests throughout tropical Africa, and is also often planted as a shade and ornamental tree because of its evergreen foliage and dense crown. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Dark brown Purple Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Red Purple - dark Mottled with black Brown It is very small and irregular, and is typically present only in large trees or stunted trees. Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Yellow - pale Same as heartwood Initially pale yellow to yellowish green, and turns grayish-brown with age Fairly well defined Grain Wavy Interlocked Figure Straight Closed Even Growth rings (figure) Distinct (figure) Wavy Interlocked Straight Distinct figure Clear growth rings (figure) Wavy to interlocked Straight, rarely Texture Fine Medium to coarse Fine to medium Medium Fine Luster High Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Very durable Durable Non durable Durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Very durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Heartwood very resistant to dry-wood termites and powder-post beetles Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Heartwood has very little resistance to decay Freshly converted sapwood is susceptible to sap stain Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Ring Shakes Distortion Moderate end spitting Severe end splitting Moderate spring/bow Moderate cupping Distortion is common Case hardening is common Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care End-Coating Moderately Difficult to Difficult Timber is refractory difficult to dry Difficult Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources The tree is a source of many important non-timber products. The fruit is edible, and the pulp is used for chutneys, curries and pickling fish. The over-ripe fruits are used as a cleaning agent for copper and brass. Many parts of the tree are also used in native medicines in Africa and Asia. The powdered kernel of the seeds is used as a sizing material, and the seeds also yield jellose that is suitable for making jellies, jams, marmalades and jelled fruits. The seed coat is rich in tannin and has been used successfully to manufacture glues for plywood. Comments Abundance of crystals in the wood Acid resistant Deposits Generally hard and heavy Large trunks used for rice mortars and chopping blocks Makes excellent fuel and charcoal Pores usually contain gum and white deposits Blunting Effect Tunsten tipped cutters are essential Severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Very difficult Specially tipped cutters required Gluing Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Possible if prebored Difficult to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Severe dulling effect on cutting edges Planing is difficult due to high density Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Difficult to machine Responds poorly due to toughness and hardness Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good turning characteristics Easy to turn Difficult to turn Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Radial = small Bending strength (MOR) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength)=high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = hard Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very high Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high The species has very high bending strength, and is much stronger than Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It has superior properties in compression parallel to grain in the air-dry condition than Teak, White oak, or Hard maple Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10050 15681 psi Density 56 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2318 lbs Impact Strength 46 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5083 8281 psi Shearing Strength 2433 psi Stiffness 1540 1775 1000 psi Weight 55 47 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 706 1102 kg/cm2 Density 897 kg/m3 Hardness 1051 kg Impact Strength 116 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 357 582 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 171 kg/cm2 Stiffness 108 124 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 881 753 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research Brenan, J.P.M., Greenway, P.J.,1949,Check-lists of the Forest Trees and Shrubs of the British Empire,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford No.5 Tanganyika Territories Part 2 Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249 Little, E.L.,1948,A Collection of Tree Specimens from Western Ecuador,Caribbean Forester,9(3,pp215-98 Nazma,1981,A handbook of Kerala Timbers,Kerala Forest Research Institute Research Report, No.9 Nigeria Department of Forest Research,1967,The Properties of Some Savanna Timber Trees,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Report, No.11 Pardy, A.A.,1956,Notes on the Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Tamarindus,indica,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1882 Purseglove, J.W. 1968. Tropical Crops - Dicotyledon 1. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York. Ramesh, Rao K., Purkayastha, S.K.,1972,Indian Woods - Their Identification Properties and Uses,Dehra Dun India,Vol. 3 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. Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.7 Sekhar, A.C.,1967,Some Indian Timbers Equivalent to Foreign Timbers,Van Vigyan 5(1&2,pp18-24 Streets, R.J.,1962,Exotic Forest Trees in the British Commonwealth,Clarendon Press Oxford Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29 Tanzania Forest Division,1967,The Weights and Shrinkage of some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sect. Technical Note,No.25 White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London