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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 Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service 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 Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Dalbergia latifolia Trade Name Indian rosewood Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Bhotbeula, Bhotuk, Biti, Bodbera, Bombay blackwood, Bombay rosewood, Botbiola, East Indian rosewood, Eetti, Eravadi, Eruvadi, Indian palisandre, Indian palissander, Indian rosewood, Iridi, Iti, Java palisandre, Jitangi, Jitegi, Jitiyegishi, Kala-rukh, Kalaruk, Karitti, Makle, Malabar, Rute, Ruzerap, Saisa, Satsayar, Satsiyar, Seris, Serisso, Shisham, Siase, Siras, Siris, Sirsa, Sirsai, Sisali, Sison, Sissa, Sissu, Sissua, Sissui, Sisu, Sitsal, Sonobrits, Sonokeling, Thethagatti, Thodagatti, Thothagatti, Veeti, Vitti, Yerugudu Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam Common Uses Agricultural implements, Artificial limbs, Bearings & bushings, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Bobbins, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: woodworking tools, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Musical instruments: strings, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling, Piano keys, Pianos , Picker sticks, Plain veneer, Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shade rollers, Shuttles, Sounding boards, Specialty items, Spindles, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Tables, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Walking sticks, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview The natural range of Dalbergia latifolia 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. Heartwood Color Brown Purple Pink Red Purple Dark brown Pale brown Brown Black Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Red Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Pink/Red Different than heartwood Often with a purplish tinge Grain Figure Interlocked Distinct (figure) Straight Even Rippled (figure) Other (figure) Mottle Stripe (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Straight Rippled figure Striped figure Other figure Mottled or streaked figure sometimes Combination of darker streaks of color and interlocked grain give the timber a very attractive appearance. Texture Coarse Medium to coarse Uniform Medium Fine to medium Luster High Medium Dull Medium Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Perishable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately durable Durable Odor No distinctive odor or taste after seasoned May be fragrant when green Toxicity Dramatic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US Schedule E; United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Collapse Distortion Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate surface checking No twisting or warping No end splitting Moderate end spitting End splitting Must be protected against too rapid drying, to avoid surface checking and end-splitting. Existing shakes may extend during drying. Degrade can be minimized during air-drying by the application of end-coatings Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Rapidly Easy Kiln dries well Dries at a fairly rapid rate The color of the timber improves during drying Kiln Drying Rate Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm They produce straight clear trunks that are 35 to 50 feet (10 to 15 m) Product Sources Quantities of Rosewood available on the market are rather limited because of increasing demand for rosewood. The material is shipped in the form of 10 to 36 inches (25 to 90 cm) diameter logs, most of which is converted into veneer. Rosewood is unsuitable for plywood manufacture. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Generally strong, tough, and hard. It is one of two most popular woods for carving and engraving, the other species being Sissoo (D. sissoo ). In the seasoned condition, Indian rosewood is two-and-one-half-times as hard as Oak (Quercus ), about twenty-five percent stronger in bending and compression along the grain, and fifteen percent stiffer. Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on machining is severe The wood occasionally contains chalky deposits which can blunt cutters rather severely and rapidly Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult May Blunt cutting edges and interfere with boring operations Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy May be difficult to saw because of calcareous deposits in vessels. Gluing Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mortise Very slow speeds have been recommended for mortising operations. Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Shape retention after manufacture is usually very good Dimensional stability is generally very good Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to nail Holds nails well Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is very resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Easy to sand Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing yields good results Good screw holding properties Easy to screw Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to turn Good results Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Good gluing qualities The timber responds very well to peeling after a soaking treatment, but it is liable to develop numerous small surface checks. Plywood manufactured from Rosewood has good strength properties, but the surfaces are usually not very smooth and uniform Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Tends to Degrade Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moderate Good Polishing Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Satisfactory results Good results Grain filling required for satisfactory results Excellent results Staining Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Radial = very small Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu.ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small