There are over 150 species of timber which are produced in India. Following are the chief varieties of timber (trees) which are used for engineering purposes in India:
Common name Binomial nomenclature Colour Density ¹ Location Characteristics, usage and status Aini or Aangili Artocarpus hirsutus Yellowish brown Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala Elastic, close-grained, and strong. It takes polish. It can be used underwater. It is used for ordinary building construction, structural work, paving, and furniture.ArduAilanthus excelsaWhite to pale yellowish Rajasthan, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Andhra PradeshIt develops straight grained, fairly even and very coarse textured. It can be used for timber, poles, pulp and paper, furniture, fodder, fuel, matchbox making and medicinal purposes. Arjun Terminalia arjuna Terminalia elliptica Dark brownWood Carving Industries Private Limited : About Us Central India It is heavy and strong. It has such uses as beams, rafters, and posts. Axlewood Anogeissus latifolia Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh It is very strong, hard and tough. It takes a smooth finish. It is subject to cracking. Babul Acacia nilotica subsp. indica Whitish red Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bengal, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh It is strong, hard and tough and it takes up a good polish. It is used for such products as bodies and wheels of bullock cart, agricultural instruments, tool handles, and well curbs. Bakul Mimusops elengi Mimusops parvifoliaMimusops elengi Reddish brown Some parts of North India It is close-grained and tough. It is used for making cabinets. Bamboo Family Poaceae, tribe Bambuseae Throughout India, especially Assam and Bengal Not actually a tree, but a woody grass, it is flexible, very strong and durable. It is used for scaffoldings, thatched roofs, rafters, and temporary bridges. Banyan Ficus benghalensis Brown Throughout India It is strong and durable only under water. The aerial roots are utilized for such items as tent poles and well curbs. Benteak Lagerstroemia parviflora Kerala, Madras, Maharashtra, Karnataka It is strong and takes up a smooth surface. It may be used for building constructions, boat building and furniture. Bijasal Pterocarpus marsupium Light brown Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orissa It is coarse-grained, durable and strong but difficult to work. Termites (also known as white ant) do not easily attack it. It is used for ordinary building construction and for cart wheels. Vulnerable.2007 IUCN Red List – Search Casuarina Casuarina spp. Reddish brown Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala (Exotic, originally from Australia) It grows straight. It is strong and fibrous. It is, however, badly twisted. It is often used for scaffolding and posts for temporary structures. Coconut Cocos nucifera Reddish brown Throughout coastal India Takes polish. Requires preservative treatment. Used as poles, piles, furniture and as formwork in concrete construction. Deodar Cedrus deodara Yellowish brown Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Deodar is the most important timber tree providing soft wood. It can be easily worked and it is moderately strong. It possesses distinct annual rings. It is used for making cheap furniture, railway carriages, railway sleepers, packing boxes, and structural work. Gambar Gmelina arborea Pale yellow Central India, South India It can be easily worked and is strong and durable especially when used under water. It is used for such products as furniture, carriage, well curbs, yokes, and door panels. Hopea Hopea parviflora Light to deep brown Madras, Kerala Hopea is extremely strong and tough. It is difficult to work. However, it can be seasoned easily and it is durable and not likely to be damaged by white ants. It has been variously used for ordinary house construction, railway sleepers, piles, and boat building. Endangered.2007 IUCN Red List – Search Himalayan Elm, Indian Elm Ulmus wallichiana Red Throughout India It is moderately hard and strong. It is used for door and window frames, and carts. Ironwood, Penaga Lilin, Bosneak, Gangaw, Mesua Mesua ferrea Reddish brownExotic Wood penaga Mesua ferrea Ironwood is durable though it is very hard and is not easily worked. It even resists penetration of nails. It is used for ordinary house construction, bridges, piles, agricultural instruments, railway wagons, and railway sleepers. Irul, Pyinkado Xylia xylocarpa Pyinkado Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu It is very hard, heavy and durable. Difficult to work, it also requires slow and careful seasoning. It is used for railway sleepers, agricultural instruments, paving blocks, and heavy construction. Least concern. Jack Mangifera caesia. Yellow, darkens with age Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala It is compact and even grained. It is moderately strong and easy to work. It takes a good finish and maintains its shape well. It has many uses including plain furniture, boat construction, well curbs, door panels, cabinet making and musical instruments. Jarul Lagerstroemia flos-reginae Light reddish gray Assam, Bengal, Maharashtra Hard and durable, it can be easily worked. It takes a good finish and is used for house construction, boat building, railway carriages, cart making and scaffolding. Kathal, Keledang, Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Yellow to deep brown Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu It is heavy and hard. It is durable under water and in damp conditions, however, it cracks if exposed to direct sun. White ants do not attack it. It is used for piles, platforms of wooden bridges, door and window panels. Lauraceae, Saj Lauraceae Dark brown Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu It is strong, hard and tough. It is subject to cracking and attack by dry rot. White ants do not attack it. It takes a smooth finish. It is used for such purposes as house construction, boat construction, railway sleepers and structural work. Mahogany Swietenia spp. Reddish brown Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra, Bengal (Exotic, originally from Jamaica) It takes a good polish and is easily worked. It is durable under water. It is most commonly used for furniture, pattern making and cabinet work. Mango Mangifera spp Deep gray Mango Throughout India The mango tree is well known for its fruits. It is easy to work and it maintains its shape well. It is moderately strong. It is most often used for cheap furniture, toys, packing boxes, cabinet work, panels for doors and for windows. Mulberry Morus spp. Brown Punjab It is strong, tough and elastic. It takes up a clean finish. It can be well seasoned. It is turned and carved easily. Mulberry is typically used for baskets and sports goods like hockey sticks, tennis rackets and cricket bats. Oak Quercus spp. Yellowish brown Oak is strong and durable, with straight silvery grain. It is used for preparing sporting goods. Palm Arecaceae Dark brown Throughout India It contains ripe wood in the outer crust. The colour of this ripened wood is dark brown. It is strong, durable and fibrous. Palm is used for furniture, roof covering, rafters and joists. Pine Pinus spp. Pine wood is hard and tough except white pine which is soft. It decays easily if it comes into contact with soil. It is heavy and coarse grained. It is used for pattern making, frames for doors and windows, and for paving material. White pine is light and straight grained and is used in the manufacture of matches. Red cedar Red Assam, Nagpur It is soft and even grained. It is used for furniture, door panels and well curbs. Rosewood Dalbergia latifolia Dark Dalbergia latifolia Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Orrissa It is strong, tough and close-grained. It is a handsome wood that takes up a high polish. It maintains its shape well and is available in large sizes. It is used for furniture of superior quality, cabinet work, and ornamental carvings. Vulnerable.2007 IUCN Red List – Search Sal Shorea robusta Brown Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh It is hard, fibrous and close-grained. It does not take up a good polish. It requires slow and careful seasoning. It is durable under ground and water. It is used for railway sleepers, shipbuilding, and bridges. Sandalwood Santalum spp. White or Red Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Nagpur, Bengal It has a pleasant smell. It is commonly used for agricultural instruments, well curbs, wheels, and mallets. Vulnerable.2007 IUCN Red List – Search Satinwood Chloroxylon swietenia YellowExotic Wood satinwood Central and Southern India It is very hard and durable. It is close grained. It is used for furniture and other ornamental works. Vulnerable.2007 IUCN Red List – Search Simul Bombax spp. White All over India It is a loose grained, inferior quality wood. Light in weight, it is used for packing cases, the match industry, well curbs, and for cheap furniture. Siris Albizia spp. Dark brown North India Hard and durable, Siris wood is difficult to work. It is used for well curbs in salty water, beams, posts, and furniture. Sissoo Dalbergia sissoo Yellowish white Mysore, Maharashtra, Assam, Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa Also known as shisham or tali, this wood is strong and tough. It is durable and handsome and it maintains its shape well. It can be easily seasoned. It is difficult to work but it takes a fine polish. It is used for high quality furniture, plywoods, bridge piles, sport goods, and railway sleepers. It is a very good material for decorative works and carvings. Spruce Picea spp. Spruce wood resists decay and is not affected by the attack of marine borers. It is however liable to shrink, twist and warp. It is used for piles under water and (formerly) for aeroplane construction. Sundri Heritiera fomes Dark red Bengal It is hard and tough. It is difficult to season and work. It is elastic and close grained. It is strong and durable. These qualities make it suited for such uses as boat building, piles, poles, tool handles, and carriage shafts. Tamarind Tamarindus indica Dark brown All over India Tamarind is knotty and durable. It is a beautiful tree for avenue and gardens. Its development is very slow but it ultimately forms a massive appearance. Its fruit is also very useful. It is used for agricultural instruments, well curbs, sugar mills, carts and brick burning. Teak Tectona grandis Deep yellow to dark brownExotic Wood teak http://tropix.cirad.fr/asia/teak.pdf Central India and Southern India Moderately hard, teak is durable and fire-resistant. It can be easily seasoned and worked. It takes up a good polish and is not attacked by white ants and dry rot. It does not corrode iron fastenings and it shrinks little. It is among the most valuable timber trees of the world and its use is limited to superior work only. Toon, red cedarNrrpc-Wood Property Report On Camphor Laurel Toona ciliata Reddish brown or dull red Assam It can be easily worked. It is light in weight. It is used for such products as furniture, packing boxes, cabinet making and door panels. ¹ After seasoning at 12% moisture content
Poplar
Indian Mangrove
Agati Algaroba Arni Ashok Asian Bushbeech Badminton Ball Tree Batino Blackjack Oak Bothi Brazilian Pepper Buddha Coconut Cashew Caucasian Maple Chaste Tree Chhal Mogra Chironji Tree Cinnamon Coffee Plum Common Sesban Common White Frangipani Crape Jasmine Dandal Devil Tree East-Indian Screw Tree Fiddlewood Frangipani pink Frangipani red Fried Egg Tree Gamhar Ginkgo Governor's Plum Guest Tree Himalayan Maple Himalayan Tree Hydrangea Indian Ash Tree Indian Bay Leaf Indrajao Java Olive Jerusalem Thorn Jhand Kakkar Kanak Champa Large Leaf Looking Glass Tree Lobed-leaf Alangium Looking Glass Mangrove