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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. Boring Carving Comments 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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Morus alba Trade Name White mulberry Family Name Moraceae Common Names Chinni, Chun, Gelso bianco, Labri, Mawon, Mulberry, Murier blanc, Ngap-set-ting, Posa, Shahtul, Shatut, Silkworm mulberry, Tooti, Tul, Tulklu, Tunt, Tuntri, Tut, Tutri, White mulberry Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Afghanistan, Burma, China, India, Iran, Japan, Pakistan Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Bobbins, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, 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, Handles, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Hockey sticks, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shafts/Handles, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tables , Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility poles, Vehicle parts, Wardrobes, Wheel spokes Environmental Profile Rare in many parts of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species is officially classified as Rare within its natural habitat in Liechtenstein, Western Europe Distribution Overview Although White mulberry is native to China, it is widely cultivated in other areas including the United States, western Europe, northern India, Afghanistan, and Kashmir. It is a naturalized species in the eastern United States and in the Pacific states. It is also occasionally planted in southern England. In India, the species is found in the plains and the Himalayas, up to an elevation of 11000 feet (3355 m). The tree is drought resistant, and has become adapted to dry, warm areas. Heartwood Color Red Brown Pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Light reddish-brown to yellowish-brown Darkens after prolonged exposure Brown Sapwood Color White Brown Yellow Red Whitish White to yellow Well defined Grain Straight Even Straight Typically straight grained with a handsome silver grain Texture Medium Even or uniform Uniform Medium coarse to coarse Medium Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Non-resistant to marine borers Durable Non durable Moderately durable Moderately durable under cover Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Drying Defects Checking Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Slight twist/warp Severe collapse and honeycomb No twisting or warping Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Requires special attention Thick Stock Requires Care Seasons well with care Easy Kiln Drying Rate Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Product Sources Silk worms are fed on the leaves of White mulberry. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Responds well to sawing Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to plane The wood works easily in most machining operations including planing, turning, boring, moulding, and sanding Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Bends easily Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium The bending strength of air-dried wood of the species is similar to that of Teak, which is considered to be strong. Strength in compression parallel to grain is in the high range. Other species in this range include Teak, White oak, and Hard maple. Hardness is rated as medium. It resists denting and marring about as well as white oak or birch. The weight is high. The density is high. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7767 12643 psi Crushing Strength 745 1294 psi Density 43 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1818 lbs Impact Strength 54 47 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3962 6990 psi Shearing Strength 2406 psi Static Bending 4057 6693 psi Stiffness 1095 1533 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 15 20 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.55 0.6 Weight 47 42 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 546 888 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 52 90 kg/cm2 Density 689 kg/m3 Hardness 824 kg Impact Strength 137 119 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 278 491 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 169 kg/cm2 Static Bending 285 470 kg/cm2 Stiffness 76 107 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 1.05 1.40 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.55 0.6 Weight 753 673 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Chaturvedi, M.D.,1956,Ania (Ailanthus excelsa) - The tree of distinction,Indian Farming 6(3) pp33-4 Desch, H. E. 1954. Manual of Malayan Timbers - Volume II. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaya Publishing House Ltd., Singapore. Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. London Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Limaye, V.D. 1954. Grouping of Indian Timbers and their Properties, Uses and Suitability. Indian Forest Records (New Series, Timber Mechanics, Volume 1, No. 2. Timber Mechanics Branch, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. Limaye, V.D. 1953. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records (New Series, Timber Mechanics, Volume 1, No. 4. Timber Mechanics Branch, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun. Limaye, V.D.,1957,Grouping of Indian Timbers and Their Properties, Uses and Suitability.,Indian Forest Records (N.S. Timber Mechanics Vol.1 No.2) Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Mahendru, I.D.,1937,The Mulberry (Morus alba Linn,Punjab Forest Records 1(2) Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 vols Ramesh, Rao K., Juneja, K.B.S.,1971,Field Identification of Fifty Important timbers of India,Dehra Dun India Saeed Ahmed, S., Mahammad Ayaz, and Taj Mohammad,1977,Properties and Uses of Commercial Timbers in Pakistan,Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, Division of Forest Products Bulletin,No.3 Sekhar, A. C., Rana, R. S. 1957. Physical and Mechanical Properties of Timbers Tested at the Forest Research Institute, Indian Forest Records, Timber Mechanics Branch, Volume 1 No. 10, Dehra Dun, India Sekhar, A.C., Rana, R.S.,1957,Physical and mechanical properties of wood tested at the Forest Research,Institute, Dehra Dun,. Report IX,Indian Forest Records (ns) Timber Mechanics 1(10) pp167-70 Sekhar, A.C.,1967,Some Indian Timbers Equivalent to Foreign Timbers,Van Vigyan 5(1&2,pp18-24 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. Yasin, M., Shah, Q.H.,1975,Peeling properties of Moris alba wood species,Pakistan Journal of Forestry 25(3) pp171-96