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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Bassia latifolia Trade Name Mahua Family Name Sapotaceae Synonyms Bassia latifolia Common Names Aluppe, Dodda, Elupa, Honge, Illupei, Ippa, Irhu, Irpi, Irrip, Irup, Kanzaw, Kat illippi, Kat illupai, Madkum, Mahua, Mahula, Mahwa, Mandukam, Matkom, Moholo, Mohul, Mowa, Mudayat, Oodlu, Pokka, Poonam, Sanna ippa Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Building construction, Cabin construction, Canoes, Carvings, Construction, Heavy construction, Joists, Light construction, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Turnery, Wheels Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The sub-Himalayan region in India, from the Ravi to the Great Gandak. It is also found in the deciduous forests of Central India and in the Central Provinces of Berar, Khandesh, Guzerat, Chota Nagpur, the Konkan, Orissa, the Circars and Deccan. Heartwood Color Red Brown Purple Pink Reddish brown Sapwood Color White Pink Yellow Very wide Grain Even Straight Interlocked Occasionally interlocked, but not always Generally straight, but not always Texture Coarse Coarse Luster Low Natural Durability Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Very durable Durable Drying Defects Splitting Severe surface checking Severe end splitting High tendency to check Ease of Drying Slowly Difficult Difficult to season Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 15-20 cm Sapwood width is 20-25 cm Sapwood width is greater than 25 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Comments Very heavu, moderately strong, and extremely hard Blunting Effect High to severe Little Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Responds well to ordinary tools in most machining operations, including planing Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Polishing Very good polishing properties Satisfactory results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Very high density Very heavy 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 exceptionally heavy, weighing much more than White oak or Teak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9016 12838 psi Density 59 lbs/ft3 Impact Strength 41 32 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 4185 7771 psi Stiffness 1225 1637 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.65 0.82 Weight 58 58 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 633 902 kg/cm2 Density 945 kg/m3 Impact Strength 104 81 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 294 546 kg/cm2 Stiffness 86 115 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.65 0.82 References Chichignoud, M., G. Deon, P. Detienne, B. Parant, and P. Vantomme. 1990. Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America. Prepared for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15 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. Record, S.J. and R.W. Hess. 1943. Timbers of the New World. Published on the Charles Lathrop Pack Foundation, Yale University Press, New Haven CT. Sekhar, A.C.,1967,Some Indian Timbers Equivalent to Foreign Timbers,Van Vigyan 5(1&2,pp18-24 Troup, R.S. 1909. Indian Woods and Their Uses. The Indian Forest Memoirs, Economic Products Series, Volume 1, No. 1. Superintendent, Government Printing, Calcutta, India.