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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 Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Substitutes Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Mesua ferrea Trade Name Gangaw Family Name Guttiferae Synonyms Mesua cocomandeliana, Mesua pedunculata, Mesua speciosa Common Names Atha, Behetta champagam, Boonnak, Bosneak, Bunnark, Churuli, Dieng-ngai, Gangau, Gangaw, Iron wood tree, Kawtanok, Kesaramu, Lenggapas, Mai-kam-kaw, Mai-ting, Mallay, Mesua, Nagachambagam, Nagachampa, Nagakesara, Nagasampige, Nagear, Nageshvaro, Nagkesar, Nahor, Naku, Nangal, Nangu, Ngai-ching, Nohar, Penaga, Peri, Rimpumara, Surili, Suruli, Vainavu, Vap, Vap nagasari, Veluthapala Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Crossties, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Lifeboats, Light construction, Matches, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Piling, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Roofing, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Structural work, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Wheel spokes, Wheels, Wheelwright work Environmental Profile Status unknown in parts of its range Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within significant parts of its range Extinct, Endangered, Rare, or Vulnerable within some parts of its original range. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center The population of this species is relatively secure within its habitat in most areas in its range including Malaysia, but it is officially classified as Rare in Sri Lanka, Vulnerable in Vietnam, and either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare in Bangladesh and Indonesia. Its environmental status in Myanmar Distribution Overview The genus Mesua is composed of trees that are widely distributed in India and Southeast Asia. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Reddish brown Purple Dark brown Dark streaks on longitudnal surfaces Dark brown Sapwood Color White Brown Red White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Light pink brown Different than heartwood Grain Interlocked Straight Spiral Even Crossed Interlocked Straight Spiral Straight to interlocked Texture Medium Fine Fine to medium Smooth Fine Even textured Luster High Medium Lustrous Medium Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Whitish deposits in vessels Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Durable Moderately durable Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Moderately durable Weathering properties are excellent Highly resistant to decay and wood destroying insects Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Checking Distortion Severe surface checking Moderate end spitting Severe twisting/warping Severe end splitting Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Careful control is required to prevent degrade Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Difficult Dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Substitutes Potential sub for Teak (Tectona grandis) Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance in dry wood is extremely high Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Difficult to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane The timber responds moderately well to hand and machine tools. Planing, turning, boring, moulding, mortising, and other woodworking properties are generally fair, but quartersawn material tends to produce woolly surfaces. Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Strength Properties Hardness (side grain) = very hard Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Max. crushing strength = very high Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Toughness-Hammer drop (impact strength) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Weight = very high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high May require special tools to process Density = very high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 15241 21420 psi Crushing Strength 1607 2283 psi Density 58 lbs/ft3 Hardness 3175 lbs Impact Strength 54 56 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 8981 11853 psi Shearing Strength 2664 psi Static Bending 10136 10405 psi Stiffness 2259 2603 1000 psi Toughness 386 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 4 7 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.74 0.92 Weight 59 57 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1071 1506 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 112 160 kg/cm2 Density 929 kg/m3 Hardness 1440 kg Impact Strength 137 142 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 631 833 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 187 kg/cm2 Static Bending 712 731 kg/cm2 Stiffness 158 183 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 444 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.28 0.49 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.74 0.92 Weight 945 913 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Chowdhury, K.A. and S.S. Ghosh. 1958. Indian Woods - Their Identification, Properties and Uses, Volume I - Dilleniaceae to Elaeocarpaceae. Published by the Manager of Publications, Delhi, India. Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Desch, H. E. 1957. Manual of Malayan Timbers - Volume I. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaya Publishing House Ltd., Singapore. Desch, H. E. 1957. Manual of Malayan Timbers. Malayan Forest Records, 28(30):315-318. Malaya Publishing House Ltd., Singapore. Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15 India Forest Research Institute,1974,Indian Timbers - Mesua,Forest Research Institute & College, Dehra Dun. Information Series No.16 Kadambi, K.,1954,Mesua ferrea Linn: Its silviculture and management,Indian Forester 80(9) pp531-50 Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia. Lee, Y.H., Lopez, D.T.,1968,The Machining Properties of some Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,3,pp194-210 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. Limaye, V.D.,1933,The Physical and Mechanical Properties of woods grown in India (Third,Interim Report on Project 1,Indian Forest Records,18(10,pp1-70 Malaysian Timber Industry Board,1986,100 Malaysian Timbers,The Malaysian Timber Industry Board Mathur, R.N.,1958,Borer damage to Mesua ferrea Linn and Poeciloneuron indicum Bedd.,Indian Forester 84(1) pp40-1 Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sono, P.,1974,Merchantable Timbers of Thailand.,Forest Products Research Division, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok,,Thailand. Strugnell, E.J.,1931,Notes on woods for furniture making,Malaysian Forester 1 pp69-73 Tewari, M.C., Jain, J.C.,1980,Utilization of Secondary Species,Journal of the National Building Organization 25(2) pp1-6 Whitmore, T.C.,1973,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 2,Forest Department Ministry of Primary Industries Malaysia