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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Certified Source
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
Numerical Data
Planing
Plantation species?
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
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Common Names
Agara, Agaru, Birdi, Du-khaek, Errasissu, Gette, Hihu, Indian rosewood, Iruvil, Iti, Khujrap, Nelkar, Padimi, Pradukhaek, Safedar, Shewa, Shin, Shinshapa, Shisham, Shishma, Shishom, Sinsupa, Sisahm, Sisam, Sisham, Sishom, Sisoo, Sissai, Sissau, Sissoo, Sissu, Sissua, Sisvi, Sonosissoo, Sonowaseso, Tali, Tanach, Tukreekung, Yette
Plantation species?
Yes
Regions of Distribution
Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Blockboard, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Charcoal, Construction, Decorative veneer, Door, Exterior uses, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture, Handles: woodworking tools, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Musical instruments: percussion, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Plywood: veneer (marine), Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Rafters, Railroad ties, Skis, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Walking sticks, Wheel spokes, Windows, agricultural implements
Environmental Profile
| Rare |
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| Abundant/Secure |
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| Status has not been officially assessed |
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| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
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Distribution Overview
Indigenous to India, Nepal, and Pakistan, the tree is now widely planted in the tropics. Said to be escaping from cultivation in tropical Florida. It is grown at Cayey, El Verde, and Guayabol in Puerto Rico. Ranging from sealevel to >1500 m, it can stand temperatures from below freezing to nearly 50°C. Apparently adapted to savanna woodlands where annual rainfall is 7-20 dm with droughts of 3-4 months duration. Sometimes gregarious in alluvial forests along the rivers of the subhimalayan tract. Ranging from Subtropical Thorn to Moist through Tropical Dry to Moist Forest Life Zones, sissoo is expected to tolerate annual precipitation of 6 to 40 dm, annual temperature of 21 to 28°C, and pH of 6-8.
Heartwood Color
| White |
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| Yellow |
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| Green/grey |
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| Orange |
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| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange |
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| Dark brown |
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| Brown |
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| Golden brown with a reddish cast |
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Plantation timber info:
Sapwood Color
| Yellow |
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| White |
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| White to yellow |
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| Clearly differentiated from the heartwood |
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| Different than heartwood |
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Plantation timber info:
Grain
| Interlocked |
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| Straight |
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| Figure |
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| Even |
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| Distinct (figure) |
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| Interlocked |
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| Straight |
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| Distinct figure |
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| Moderately to severely interlocked |
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Texture
| Medium |
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| Medium to coarse |
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| Coarse |
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Luster
Plantation timber info:
Natural Durability
| Perishable |
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| Very durable |
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| Moderately resistant to attack by termites |
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| Moderately durable |
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Cocobolo is very durable and is highly resistant to marine borer attack. Prolonged or repeated immersion in soapy water is reported have very little adverse effect on the wood except to darken its color. Natural oils in the wood tend to promote waterproofing. They also impart a waxy appearance to the wood when it is rubbed with a cloth.Natural resistance to decay is very high, and the heartwood is rarely attacked by borers and ants
Toxicity
Plantation timber info:
Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed |
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| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid |
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| Drying (speed) is fast |
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| UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 |
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Drying Defects
| Checking |
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| Distortion |
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| No twisting or warping |
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| No end splitting |
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| Slight surface checking |
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| Slight end splitting |
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Surface checking and end splitting may occur if the wood is air-dried too rapidly.
Ease of Drying
| Rapidly |
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| Reconditioning Treatement |
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| Fairly Easy |
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| Kiln dries well |
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| Dries at a moderate rate with little degrade. |
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The heart of the timber is usually full of shakes and also contains hard, white calcareous deposits and requires to be boxed out during conversion. The timber is also reported to kiln-dry well but slowly. Wood color tends to improve with kiln-drying
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries quickly |
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| Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) |
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Plantation timber info:
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is misshapen |
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| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
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| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
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Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
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| Tree height is 10-20 m |
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A clear bole of over 30 feet (10 m). It tends to remain a comparatively small tree under less ideal conditions. The bole is often curved or somewhat crooked, with an irregular buttress. Straight logs of any great length are seldom available
Product Sources
Large supplies of the timber are available from Uttar Pradesh and the Punjab, while limited quantities can be obtained from West Bengal and Assam, all in India.
Certified Source
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Little |
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| Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe |
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| Hard chalky deposits in the wood tend to dull cutting edges rather severely. |
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Boring
| Fair to good results |
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| Fairly easy to very easy |
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Carving
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Very good results |
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Onsidered to be one of two most popular carving and engraving woods in India. Plantation timber info:
Cutting Resistance
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
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| Difficult to saw |
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| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy |
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| Blunting of saws |
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Gluing
| Easy to glue |
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| Satisfactory gluing properties |
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Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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Moulding
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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Movement in Service
| Stability is good |
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| Shape retention after manufacture is usually good |
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Nailing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Unsuitable for Nailing |
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Plantation timber info:
Planing
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Easy to use machine tools |
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Cutting edges tend to dull very rapidly because of chalky deposits.
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood |
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| Permeable heartwood |
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| Heartwood is very resistant |
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| Sapwood is permeable |
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| Heartwood is resistant |
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But chemical protection is often unnecessary since the wood is very durable.
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
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| Responds Readily |
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| Easy to machine |
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Plantation timber info:
Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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Sanding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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Screwing
| Fair to Good Results |
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| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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Turning
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
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| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Easy to turn |
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Plantation timber info:
Veneering Qualities
| Veneers easily |
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| Veneers moderately easy |
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| Suitable for peeling |
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| Easy to cut |
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| Suitable for slicing |
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| Suitable for peeling |
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| Steaming required to prepare bolts |
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Sissoo is reported to peel exceptionally well to produce highly decorative veneers which are reported to glue and dry without difficulty
Steam Bending
Plantation timber info:
Polishing
Plantation timber info:
Staining
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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Strength Properties
| Max. crushing strength = high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
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Medium resistance to shock loads, and low stiffness. It is very heavy
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
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| Bending Strength | 9785 | 14643 | psi |
| Density | | 48 | lbs/ft3 |
| Hardness | | 1658 | lbs |
| Impact Strength | 46 | 43 | inches |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6092 | 9027 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | | 1921 | psi |
| Stiffness | 1306 | 1557 | 1000 psi |
| Specific Gravity | 0.62 | | |
| Weight | 47 | 38 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 4 | | % |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 8 | | % |
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| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
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| Bending Strength | 687 | 1029 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | | 769 | kg/m3 |
| Hardness | | 752 | kg |
| Impact Strength | 116 | 109 | cm |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 428 | 634 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | | 135 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 91 | 109 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.62 | | |
| Weight | 753 | 608 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 4 | | % |
References
Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia
Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 3 Southern Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London
France - C.T.F.T.,Table de sechage pur Dalbergia sissoo,C.T.F.T. Information technique No.171
Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London
Guha, S.R.D., Mukherjea, V.N.,1961,Chemical pulps for writing and printing papers from Dalbergia sissoo Roxb,(Sissoo,Indian Pulp and Paper,15(10) pp599-602
Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.
I. Soerianegara and R.H.M.J. Lemmens (Editors,1993,Plant Resources of South-East Asia 5,(PROSEA, 1,Timber trees: Major commercial timbers,Pudoc Scientific Publishers, Wageningen 1993
India - Forest Research Institute,1970,Indian Timbers - Kokko (Siris,Forest Research Inst. & Colleges Dehra Dun Information Series,No.6
Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Kribbs, D.A. 1959. Commercial Foreign Woods on the American Market. Buckhout Lab., Dept. of Botany, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.
Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California.
Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols
Poynton, R.J.,1957,Notes on Exotic Forest Trees in South Africa (Second Edition, Revised,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.38
Prasad, B.N., Jain, N.C.,1964,Preliminary studies of cutting resistance of a few Indian woods,Indian Forester 90(10) pp698-701
Puri, Y.N., Khan, S.N.,1968,Natural decay resistance of Indian timbers VI decay resistance of Sissoo,(Dalbergia sisso) and Sandan (Ougeinia oojeinensis,Indian Forester 94(9) pp686-93
Ramesh, Rao K., Juneja, K.B.S.,1971,Field Identification of Fifty Important timbers of India,Dehra Dun India
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.
Rawat, B.S., Rawat, N.S.,1960,Physical and Mechanical properties of woods tested at the Forest Research,Institute, Dehra Dun Report XI,Indian Forestry Records (NS) Timber Mechanics 1(12)
Rehman, M.A., Et al,1956,The steam bending properties of Indian timbers,Indian Forest Record (N.S.) Wood Seasoning 1(1)
Rehman, M.A.,1956,The Seasoning behaviour of Indian Trees,Indian Forest Bulletin (N.S.) Wood Seasoning No. 198
Saeed Ahmed, S., Mahammad Ayaz, and Taj Mohammad,1977,Properties and Uses of Commercial Timbers in Pakistan,Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, Division of Forest Products Bulletin,No.3
Sekhar, A.C.,1967,Some Indian Timbers Equivalent to Foreign Timbers,Van Vigyan 5(1&2,pp18-24
Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi
Tewari, M.C., Jain, J.C.,1980,Utilization of Secondary Species,Journal of the National Building Organization 25(2) pp1-6
WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.
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