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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Melia composita Trade Name Bagalunga Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Melia australasica, Melia dubia, Melia robusta Common Names Bagalunga, Betta bevu, Ceylon cedar, Ceylon mahogany, Dingkurlong, Eiswe, Heb-bevu, Kattu-veppu, Labshi, Lunumidella, Maha limbu, Malabar neem wood, Malabar nim wood, Malaveppu, Malei vembu, Nimbarra, White cedar Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Matches, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Plywood, Tool handles, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Pale red to pink Reddish brown Red Sapwood Color White Grey White to yellow Pinkish Grain Straight Even Figure Growth rings (figure) Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Medium Fine Coarse Luster High Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Non durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Odor Has an odor Drying Defects Distortion Checking Discoloration Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Reconditioning Treatement Fairly Easy Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to machine Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Veneers easily Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 2509 3623 psi Density 21 lbs/ft3 Impact Strength 74 inches Shearing Strength 882 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Weight 21 17 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 176 254 kg/cm2 Density 336 kg/m3 Impact Strength 187 cm Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 References Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 3 Southern Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Desch, H.E.,1948,The Cedars,Wood 13(2) pp40-3 Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15 Little, E.L., Wadsworth, F.H.,1964,Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook,No.249 Nazma,1981,A handbook of Kerala Timbers,Kerala Forest Research Institute Research Report, No.9 Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols