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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Certified Source
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Corrosive Properties
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Terminalia catappa

Trade Name
Adamarram

Family Name
Combretaceae

Synonyms
Buceras catappa


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Adamarram, Al-calessi, Alita, Almendro, Almond, Almond tree, Amanda, Amandier, Amendoeira, Amendro, Badam, Badambo, Badami, Bangla badam, Bastard almond, Bengal almond, Bengali badam, Bulao, Castana, Catappa, Dalisai, Dao, Deshi badam, Hindi badam, Indian almond tree, Indian almond wood, Jangli badam, Ketapang, Kotamba, Kottamba, Logo, Magtalisai, Nat badam, Nat vadom, Natavadom, Natto-vudumay, Natvodam, Patti badam, Saket, Salaisai, Salisai, Sanideng, Savidug, Taisai, Talie, Talihai, Talisai, Talisi, Taree, Tercat, Thalli thenga, Vathakottai, Vedam

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Burma, Fiji [Polynesia], Guadelope [France], India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands

Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Chemical derivatives, Coffins, Decks, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Roofing, Structural work, Toys, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure


Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Orange
Green/grey
White
Red
Reddish brown
Brown
Red
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown


Sapwood Color
Red
Brown
Yellow
White
Paler than heartwood
White to yellow


Grain
Interlocked
Wavy
Growth rings (figure)
Figure
Closed
Straight
Even

Interlocked
Wavy
Clear growth rings (figure)
Straight


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Fine
Medium coarse to coarse
Coarse
Medium


Luster
Medium
High
Low
Lustrous
Pronounced


Natural Durability
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Non-durable
Non-resistant to termites
Perishable
Non-resistant to marine borers
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Perishable
Moderately durable
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree
Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack


Odor
Has an odor


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Corrosive Properties
Reacts with metals


Toxicity
Some toxic effects
Unspecified toxicity
Dermatitic effects


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast


Drying Defects
Distortion
Splitting
Checking
Ring Shakes
Moderate end spitting
No surface checking
Moderate twist/warp
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Slight cupping
No cupping, generally
Moderate spring/bow


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Slowly
Reconditioning Treatement
Difficult


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Rapid
Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast
Naturally dries slowly


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is fluted
Bole/stem form is misshapen


Tree Size
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 40-50 m
Tree height is 50-60 m
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Bole length is 20-30 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Sapwood width is 10-15 cm
Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm
Tree height is 60-70 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bole length is 30-40 m
Tree height is 10-20 m


Certified Source
Certified Source


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Moderate
Little
Blunting effect on machining is moderate
Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Fair to good results
Moderately easy


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Easy to glue


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Finishes satisfactorily


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Poor moulding results


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Pre-Boring Recommended
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Easy to nail


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Poor to Very Poor Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Planes to a poor finish
Planes well, to a good finish
Difficult to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Resistant sapwood
Permeable heartwood
Heartwood is extremely resistant
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is moderately resistant


Resistance to Splitting
Good


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Responds Readily
Easy to machine
Difficult to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Sanding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Good sanding finish


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Pre-boring recommended
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fair to Good Results
Easy to screw


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fair to Good Results
Poor results
Easy to turn


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Veneers easily
Suitable for slicing
Veneers moderately easy
No drying degrade


Steam Bending
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Poor


Painting
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Surface Preparation
Satisfactory results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Surface Preparation
Reacts with Iron to discolour wood
Finish is generally satisfactory


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Max. crushing strength = medium
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Max. crushing strength = low
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Hardness (side grain) = hard
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = low


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength851013321psi
Density38lbs/ft3
Hardness1325lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength32065405psi
Shearing Strength1978psi
Stiffness118813831000 psi
Weight3729lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength598936kg/cm2
Density608kg/m3
Hardness601kg
Maximum Crushing Strength225380kg/cm2
Shearing Strength139kg/cm2
Stiffness83971000 kg/cm2
Weight592464kg/m3

References
Aguilar, L.,1941,Relative Durability of Untreated Philippine woods,The Philippine Journal of Forestry 4(3) pp247-56

Alston, A.S.,1966,Natural Heartwood Durability,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No. 2

Alston, A.S.,1966,Powder Post Beetle Lyctus Species,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva. Fiji timbers and their uses No.6

Bolza, E.,1975,Properties and Uses of 175 Timber Species from Papua New Guinea and West,Irian,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Building Research Report,no.34

Bourdillon, T.F.,1908,The Forest Trees of Travancore,Travancore Government Press

Britton, N.L., Millspaugh, C.F.,1920,The Bahama Flora,Britton & Millspaugh,New York

Browne, F.G.,1955,Forest Trees of Sarawak and Brunei and their Products.,Government Printing Office, Kuching, Sarawak

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Burgess, P.F.,1966,Timbers of Sabah,Sabah Forest Record, no.6

Cameron, S.,1945,Some Notes on Utilisation of Timbers in the South-West Pacific,New Zealand Journal of Forestry Volume 5(2) 117-127

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Chu, Y.P.,1969,Some basic strength properties of 22 timbers from Christmas Island,Malaysian Forester 32(2) pp201-2

Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15

E.H. Walker,1954,Important Trees of the Ryukyu Islands,United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands Special Bulletin,No. 3

Eddowes, P.J.,1977,Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea: Their Properties and Uses,Hebano Press, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Fenton, R., Et al,1977,Lowland Tropical Hardwoods - An Annotated Bibliography of Selected Species,with Plantation Potential,External Aid Div. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wellington, N.Z.

Foreman, D.B.,1971,A checklist of the vascular plants of Bouganville with descriptions of,some common forest trees,New Guinea Forestry Department, Division of Botany, Lae, Botany Bulletin,No.5

Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London

Gowers, S.,1976,Some Common Trees of the New Hebrides and Their Vernacular Names,New Hebrides Department of Agriculture, Forestry Section

Hearne, D.A.,1975,Trees for Darwin and Northern Australia,Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra

Kadambi, K.,1954,Terminalia catappa Linn, its silviculture and management,Indian Forester 80(11) pp718-20

Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1

Kininimonth, J.A.,1982,Properties and uses of the timbers of Western Samoa, Indigenous,Hardwoods,Forest Research Institute, Rotorua, New Zealand

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

Longwood, F.R.,1961,Puerto Rican Woods - Their Machining Seasoning and Related Characteristics,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.205

McCann, C.,1947,Trees of India: A Popular Handbook,D.B.Taraporevala Sons & Co. Bombay

Nation Research Council,1980,Firewood Crops Shrub and Tree Species for Energy Production,National Academy of Sciences, Washington D.C.

Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols

Pleydell, G.J.,1970,Timbers of the British Solomon Islands,United Africa Company (Timber) Ltd, London

Ramesh, Rao K., Purkayastha, S.K.,1972,Indian Woods - Their Identification Properties and Uses,Dehra Dun India,Vol. 3

Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.7

Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T

Sarawak Forestry Department,1953,Trees and Timbers of Sarawak and Brunei,Sarawak Forest Department Leaflet No.10

Smythies, B.E.,1965,Common Sarawak Trees,Borneo Literature Bureau

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

Takahashi, A.,1975,Compilation of data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part 2,Central and South America,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No.4

Tewari, M.C., Jain, J.C.,1980,Utilization of Secondary Species,Journal of the National Building Organization 25(2) pp1-6

Whitmore, T.C. (Ed.,1972,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 1,Forest Department Ministry of Agriculture and Lands Malaysia

Whitmore, T.C.,1966,Guide to the Forests of the British Solomon Islands,Oxford University Press









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