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 Certified Source Comments Common Names Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Tamarix sp. Trade Name Athel Family Name Common Names Athel Regions of Distribution Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Albania, Algeria, Australia, China, Croatia, Greece, India, Italy, Korea-North, Macedonia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Turkey, United States Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Tamarix is a genus of small trees and shrubs that are distributed in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Southeast Asia, they are reported to occur in several regions in India, the Philippines, and Burma. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Black Green/grey Yellowish white Yellowish tan Reddish brown Color varies considerably Brown - gray Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Green/Grey Grain Even Straight Interlocked Straight to interlocked Quartersawn surfaces may show very attractive figure Texture Coarse Medium Fine Resinous and oily Variable texture Fine to coarse and uneven Luster Low Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Durable Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Very little natural resistance Standing trees susceptible to insect borers Odor Has an odor Silica Content High Siliceous Toxicity Some toxic effects Drying Defects Uneven Moisture Content Discoloration Splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Requires carefully controlled drying to prevent degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Very slow Drying rate is slow Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 0-10 m Bark width is 10-15 mm Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources Timber produced from Tamarix species is primarily locally used. Certified Source Certified Source Comments Cultivated for the fixatiopn of sand dune, afforestation on sea shores and also ornamental purposes Used for dying and medical purposes Yields tannin Blunting Effect Little High to severe Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Surface Preparation Mortising Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Yields a smooth, clean finish Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Painting Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Staining Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Surface Preparation Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Resists wearing and marring Hardness = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high The species has medium bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It is closer in strength to Mahogany than either Teak or White oak, which have higher bending strength. It has medium compression strength parallel to grain, comparing favorably to Mahogany Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8800 10388 psi Crushing Strength 1007 1578 psi Density 37 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1563 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4381 5782 psi Shearing Strength 2063 psi Static Bending 4978 5998 psi Stiffness 990 1058 1000 psi Toughness 81 inch-lbs Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 618 730 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 70 110 kg/cm2 Density 592 kg/m3 Hardness 708 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 308 406 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 145 kg/cm2 Static Bending 349 421 kg/cm2 Stiffness 69 74 1000 kg/cm2 References Bolza, E., Kloot, N. H. 1963. The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers. Technological Paper No. 25. Division of Forest Products, Center for Scientific and Industrial Organization (CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia. 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.