top

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
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
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Size
Turning

Scientific Name
Buchanania latifolia

Trade Name
Char

Family Name
Anacardiaceae

Synonyms
Buchanania latifolia


Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Achar, Aima, Baruda, Buchanania, Carai, Char, Chara, Chara-chettu, Charoli, Charu, Charwari, Chinna moral, Chirauli, Chirka, Chiroli, Chironji, Herka, Jaru mamidi, Jvaramamidi, Kat maa, Katbhilawa, Katma, Kolegeru, Lonbo, Lonepomoa, Lonpo, Lunbo, Maihakhpu, Moda mavu, Moongapezhu, Mora, Mora kangi, Moral, Morala, Morli, Morlimorlu banka, Morlu chettu, Munga pera, Mungapera, Muria, Murkalu, Nurkal, Nurkul, Nuruvei, Nuskul, Parop, Paruppusedi, Payala, Peea, Peirah, Perna, Perua, Pial, Piar, Piyal, Pyal, Sara, Sarai, Saraipparuppu, Saraka, Sareka, Sir, Taro, Tarop, Tarum, Thitsibo

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Burma, India, Myanmar, Nepal

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Charcoal, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Door, Fine furniture, Fixtures, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Packing cases, Roofing, Rustic furniture, Stools, Tables , Trimming, Utility furniture, Wainscotting

Environmental Profile
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
India, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Yunnan, primarily in dry forests. Fruit is black, 1-seeded, kernels pear-shaped, 1 cm long, oily, edible, delicious with a combination of almond and pistachio flavours - known as "almondettes" occasionally imported into Europe, eaten raw or roasted or in sweetmeats, pounded and dried fruits made into bread in India, seed oil a substitute for almond or olive oil; bark and fruit yield a varnish; bark used in tanning; browsed; gum used in traditional medicine against leprosy; wood for fuel; trees grown for erosion control.

Heartwood Color
Yellow
Orange
White
Brown
Red
Greenish to greyish
White to cream
Pale brown
Dark brown
Brown


Sapwood Color
Brown
Yellow
White
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Straight
Interlocked
Even

Straight
Interlocked


Texture
Fine
Even or uniform
Coarse


Luster
Medium
High
Slightly lustrous


Natural Durability
Durable
Resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to insect attack
Perishable
Non-durable
Non durable
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Will deteriorate rapidly in wet conditions without chemical protection
Very little natural resistance
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Moderately durable


Toxicity
Some toxic effects


Drying Defects
Splitting
Checking


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Thick Stock Requires Care
Slowly
Easy
Requires rapid drying


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries slowly


Tree Size
Tree height is 0-10 m
Bole length is 0-10 m
Tree height is 10-20 m


The tree is of moderate size, and is deciduous for only a short period

Certified Source
Certified Source


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory

Generally very soft, moderately heavy, poor quality

Blunting Effect
Moderate
High to severe


Boring
Poor to very poor results
Fairly difficult to very difficult


Carving
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


Mortising
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Moulding
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement


Nailing
Pre-Boring Recommended
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Response to Hand Tools
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to Work
Easy to machine


Routing & Recessing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor to Very Poor Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Strength Properties
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Max. crushing strength = low
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Vulnerable to denting and scratching
Vulnerable to denting and marring
Heavy
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Density = high
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength54088732psi
Crushing Strength255568psi
Density39lbs/ft3
Hardness569lbs
Impact Strength1616inches
Maximum Crushing Strength21614213psi
Shearing Strength1022psi
Static Bending26664537psi
Stiffness101512901000 psi
Work to Maximum Load34inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.410.51
Weight3837lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
Volumetric Shrinkage11%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength380613kg/cm2
Crushing Strength1739kg/cm2
Density624kg/m3
Hardness258kg
Impact Strength4040cm
Maximum Crushing Strength151296kg/cm2
Shearing Strength71kg/cm2
Static Bending187318kg/cm2
Stiffness71901000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.210.28cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.410.51
Weight608592kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%

References
Bourdillon, T.F.,1908,The Forest Trees of Travancore,Travancore Government Press

Gamble, J.S.,1902,A Manual of Indian Timbers,Sampson Low, Marston & Co. 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. Manager of Publications (Publisher, Delhi.

Limaye, V.D. and B.R. Sen. 1956. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records (New Series). Timber Mechanics. Volume 1 No. 4. Manager of Publications (Publisher, Delhi.

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

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)

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.

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.