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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. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Natural Durability Numerical Data References Regions of Distribution Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Alnus nepalensis Trade Name Grey alder Family Name Betulaceae Common Names Alder, Boshi swa, Grey alder, Indian alder, Koe, Kohi, Kowal, Kunch, Kunis, Kuntz, Nepal alder, Newn, Ni, Piak, Pusala, Puzala, Udish, Utis, westa Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam Common Uses Blinds, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Construction, Decorative plywood, General carpentry, Matches, Packing cases, Planks, Plywood, Shutters, Sills, Turnery, Windows Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure His species is secure within its natural habitat in most areas in its range, including the Yunnan Province in China, Nepal, and Vietnam. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Indochina, the Xizang Zizhigu Au Province in China, Bhutan, Myanmar Distribution Overview Native to southeast Asia (Burmese hills, Himalayas, Subtropical China, Indochina). Introduced to Java, India, Hawaii, and the Philippines. It occurs in the Yunnan Province in China. It is also found in Nepal and Vietnam. In its native habitat it ranges from 300–3,000 m, in Hawaii from 300–1,800 m, growing well in areas with more than 500 mm annual precipitation. Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Pale red to pink Pale brown Sapwood Color Brown Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Figured Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Even textured Natural Durability Perishable Durable Heartwood resistant to decay Ease of Drying Reconditioning Treatement Reported to season well without warping Tree Size The deciduous tree is described as large Strength Properties Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5057 7242 psi Crushing Strength 274 333 psi Density 23 lbs/ft3 Hardness 377 lbs Impact Strength 15 14 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 2421 4900 psi Shearing Strength 752 psi Static Bending 2920 4253 psi Stiffness 900 1152 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 4 5 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.25 0.26 Weight 41 23 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 355 509 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 19 23 kg/cm2 Density 368 kg/m3 Hardness 171 kg Impact Strength 38 35 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 170 344 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 52 kg/cm2 Static Bending 205 299 kg/cm2 Stiffness 63 80 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.28 0.35 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.25 0.26 Weight 657 368 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References 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. Reyes, L.J. 1938. Philippine Woods. Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Technical Bulletin 7, Commonwealth of the Philippines, Bureau of Printing, Manila. Sekhar, A.C., B.R. Sen and S.S. Bhatnagar. 1956. Physical and Mechanical Properties of Woods Tested at the Forest Research Institute, Report VII. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 8, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India. 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. WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.