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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 Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Albizia falcataria Trade Name Batai Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Albizia falcata, Albizia falcataria, Albizia moluccana Common Names Albizzia, Bae, Batai, Celon sau, Ceylon sau, Jeungjing, Kayu machis, Molaccana-koroi, Molucca, Molucca albizzia, Moluccan sau, Moluccana koroi, Puah, Rare, Ratamara, Seka, Selawaku, Selawaku merah, Selawoku, Sengon laut, Sika, Sika bot, Sikas, Solomon Islands albizia, Tawa sela, Tawa selia, Tedehu dute, Wahogen, Wahogon, Wai, White albizia, White albizzia, Wikkie Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bangladesh, Hawaii [US], Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands Common Uses Balusters, Barrels, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Core Stock, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Farm vehicles, Fiberboard, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Pallets, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Shingles, Tables, Veneer, Wheels Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Native to the eastern islands of the Indonesian archipelago (Moluccas) and New Guinea, this species has been spread to Southeast Asia from Burma to the Philippines, and introduced locally in tropical Africa and America. It seems to thrive on many soils, alluvial soils, laterites, sandy mining soil, and white sands. Ranging from Subtropical Moist to Wet through Tropical Moist to Wet Forest Life Zones, probably tolerates annual precipitation of 20 to 45 dm and annual temperature of 20 to 28°C. In Hawaii the tree is planted as both an ornamental and a forest tree. Heartwood Color Red Yellow Brown Pink White Orange Purple Tan Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink White to cream Pale brown Red Yellowish tan Pinkish white Light brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Pink White to yellow Pinkish Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Interlocked Straight Figure Crossed Even Growth rings (figure) Spiral Distinct (figure) Weak (figure) Interlocked Generally straight, but not always Clear growth rings (figure) Weak figure Spiral Moderately to severely interlocked Distinct figure Texture Coarse Medium Fine Even or uniform Uniform Coarse Medium to coarse Fine to medium Even textured Luster Medium Low Sometimes lustrous but not always Slightly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often present Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Resistant to termites Moderately durable Non-resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Very little natural resistance Susceptible to termite attack Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately durable Odor No taste Strong odor when green which disappears after it is dried Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Respiratory effects Unspecified toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Splitting Checking Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Easy Dries at a fairly rapid rate Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Comments Abnormal Wood Tissue General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Little High to severe Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate Blunting effect on sawing green wood is mild Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect is slight when tension wood is absent Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Easy Use very sharp cutting edges to prevent grain from tearing Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Moderate to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Growth stresses may cause pinching of saw blades, Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Glues well Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very sharp edges are required Finishes satisfactorily Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Requires very sharp cutting edges Good moulding properties Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Small Holds shape well Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Nails hold poorly Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Moderately easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is treatable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Very sharp cutting edges are required to produce a smooth surface Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Requires very sharp cutters Good in both routing and recessing. Screwing Poor to Very Poor Results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sharp cutting edges required Satisfactory Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Suitable for slicing Easy to cut No steaming needed during bolt preparation. No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting