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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 Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Melia indica Trade Name Neem Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Melia azadirachta, Melia indica Common Names Agas, Arya-veppu, Azad -darackht, Azad-darakht, Bal-nimb, Betain, Bevina, Bevu, Kai-bevu, Kohomba, Kohumba, Limb, Limbo, Maranggo, Margosa tree, Neem, Nim, Nimbay, Nimuri, Olle-bevu, Paraiso de la India, Sedyappa, Tama, Tamaka, Taruka, Vembu, Vempu, Venpa, Vepa, Veppam, Veppu, Yapa, Yepa Regions of Distribution Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bangladesh, Burma, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Vanuatu Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Planks, Plywood, Poles, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rafters, Roofing, Rustic furniture, Shakes, Shingles, Siding, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural work, Tables , Tool handles, Toys, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The natural growth range of the species includes the dry forests of Burma\ Heartwood Color Reddish brown Red Pale red to pink Sapwood Color White to yellow Pinkish Well defined Paler than heartwood Brown - gray Grain Interlocked Figure Closed Distinct (figure) Wavy Growth rings (figure) Very fine Interlocked Wavy Generally interlocked Figure occurrence is very fine and distinct Distinct figure Clear growth rings (figure) The closed grain is typically interlocked or crossed. Texture Fine Medium Medium coarse to coarse Coarse Luster Medium Lustrous Dull Slightly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin streaks Natural Durability Perishable Moderately durable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to decay Moderately durable Odor No odor, generally. Has scent Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Distortion Checking Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Ease of Drying Slowly Requires care Easy Air-dries rather well Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Good mortising properties Moulding Good moulding properties Good finishing results Movement in Service Small Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Possible if prebored Difficult to nail Planing Planes well, to a good finish Planing is easy and can yield smooth surfaces, but patches of interlocked grain may cause fuzziness. Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Routing is easy Generally good Turning Good results Turns to smooth finish free of chipping at fine edges Painting Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Polishing Fair to Good Results Poor results Good results Staining Staining is usually excellent Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impace Strength) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (impact strength) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Weight = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Resists denting and marring Hardness = very high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9528 13818 psi Crushing Strength 1215 1646 psi Density 48 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1719 lbs Impact Strength 48 43 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5237 7423 psi Shearing Strength 2020 psi Static Bending 5390 6135 psi Stiffness 1199 1395 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 10 13 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.63 0.7 Weight 48 47 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 669 971 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 85 115 kg/cm2 Density 769 kg/m3 Hardness 779 kg Impact Strength 121 109 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 368 521 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 142 kg/cm2 Static Bending 378 431 kg/cm2 Stiffness 84 98 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.70 0.91 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.63 0.7 Weight 769 753 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Betancourt, A.,1972,Paraiso de la India (Azadirachta indica Juss) desarrollo alcanzado en Cuba,por dicha especie,Revista Forestal Baracoa 2(3-4) pp17-23 Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research Bourdillon, T.F.,1908,The Forest Trees of Travancore,Travancore Government Press Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Jain, V.K.; Arora, K.L.; and Sharma, A.K.,1993,A Note on the Movement of some Indian Timbers,The Indian Forester Vol.119 No.11, pp.936-939 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. McCann, C.,1947,Trees of India: A Popular Handbook,D.B.Taraporevala Sons & Co. Bombay 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 Radwanski, S.,1977,Neem Tree 2,World Crops and Livestock 1977 29(3) pp111-3 Rawat, B. S., Rawat, N. S., Sekhar, A. C., Bhatnager, S. S. 1957. Physical and Mechanical Properties of Timbers Tested at the Forest Research Institute, Report XI. Indian Forest Records, Timber Mechanics Branch, Volume 1 No. 12, Dehra Dun, 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) Sekhar, A.C. 1955. Working Qualities of Some Indian Timbers. Indian Forest Bulletin No. 194 (New Series, Timber Mechanics. Reprinted from The Indian Forester, Vol. 81, No. 11, Pages 724-732. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India. Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7 Troup, R.S. 1909. Indian Woods and Their Uses, The Indian Forest Memoirs, Economic Products Series, Vol. 1, No. 1. Superintendent Government Printing, Calcutta, India. Yoji Kikata (ed.,1991,The promotion of Lesser-known Species and Plantation-grown species,Proceedings of the International Forest Products Workshop, 14 to 15,October, 1991, Nagoya University, Japan