Common Names:   Bombay blackwood East Indian rosewood Indian palisandre Indian rosewood Java palisandre Malabar Shisham Sitsal Sonokeling Purchase Rosewood Indonesian

Mechanical Values

Environmental Profile
The environmental status of the species within most of its natural boundaries is listed as either very secure (the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu) or unknown because of inadequate information such as in Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and the Sikkim State in India (Source - World Conservation Monitoring Center - 1992 ).

Distribution
Dalbergia is reported to be a large genus, consisting of about 300 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas which occur throughout the tropical regions of the world. Indian rosewood (D. latifolia ) is reported to be scattered in the dry deciduous forests throughout the Indian peninsula. It grows in the sub-Himalayan tract from Oudh eastwards to Sikkim, Bihar, Orissa, and throughout central and southern India. Optimum growing conditions for the species are reported to be in the Bombay region. The species is also planted as a shade tree in coffee plantations and on roadsides. It is reported to be an introduced species in Nigeria.

Product Sources
Some materials (semi-finished or finished products) from this species are reported to be available from environmentally responsible or sustainably managed sources. 

Quantities of Rosewood available on the market are reported to be rather limited because of increasing demand for rosewood. The material is reported to be shipped in the form of 10 to 36 inches (25 to 90 cm) diameter logs, most of which is converted into veneer. Rosewood is reported to be unsuitable for plywood manufacture.

Tree Data
Under the best growing conditions, the trees are reported to reach heights of about 100 feet (30 m). They produce straight clear trunks that are 35 to 50 feet (10 to 15 m) long, with average diameters of up to 30 inches (75 cm), but may occasionally reach 60 inches (150 cm).

Sapwood Color
The sharply defined sapwood is yellowish or pale yellowish-white, often with a purplish tinge.

Heartwood Color
The color ranges from rose to dark-brown with darker purple-black lines. The darker streaks impart an attractive figure to the timber.

Grain
The crossed or narrowly interlocked grain produces a ribbon figure on quarter-sawn surfaces. Combination of darker streaks of color and interlocked grain give the timber a very attractive appearance. 

Texture
The texture is moderately coarse and uniform

Luster
Luster is reported to vary from dull to medium.

Odor
The freshly cut wood is characterized by a fragrant scent. There is no distinctive odor or taste after the material is seasoned. 

Ease of Drying
The material is reported to air-season more rapidly than other species, and it kiln-dries slowly but with relative ease. The color of the timber improves during drying.

Drying Defects
Must be protected against too rapid drying, to avoid surface checking and end-splitting. Existing shakes may extend during drying. Degrade can be minimized during air-drying by the application of end-coatings.

Kiln Schedules
T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US
Schedule E; United Kingdom

Movement in Service
The material is reported to possess exceptional dimensional stability, and retains its shape very well after seasoning.

T/R Ratio
2.15
This indicator is more meaningful if it is used together with other drying information and actual shrinkage data in the tangential and radial directions. (Refer to the Numerical Values window).

Natural Durability
The heartwood is rated as very durable, and is generally highly resistant to attack by termites and decay fungi. Resistance to termites is reported to be only moderate in India. The sapwood, however, is liable to powder-post beetle attack.

Veneering Qualities
The timber is reported to respond very well to peeling after a soaking treatment, but it is liable to develop numerous small surface checks. Plywood manufactured from Rosewood is reported to have good strength properties, but the surfaces are usually not very smooth and uniform.

Cutting Resistance
May be difficult to saw because of calcareous deposits in vessels.

Blunting Effect
The wood occasionally contains chalky deposits which can blunt cutters rather severely and rapidly.

Turning
The wood is reported to be excellent for turnery work.

Boring
Calcareous deposits in vessels may blunt cutting edges and interfere with boring operations.

Mortising
Very slow speeds have been recommended for mortising operations.

Gluing
The wood is reported to be fairly easy to glue.

Nailing
The timber is reported to be unsuitable for nailing, but nail-holding qualities are good.

Screwing
Screw-holding characteristics are rated as good.

Sanding
The timber is reported to sand easily.

Polishing
The wood has excellent finishing and polishing characteristics, but it requires some surface preparation in the form of grain filling. 

Response to Hand Tools
Rosewood is reported to be moderately difficult to work by hand.

Comments
Rosewood is reported to be heavy, and has high strength properties. It is reported to be one of two most popular woods for carving and engraving, the other species being Sissoo (D. sissoo ). In the seasoned condition, Indian rosewood is reported to be two-and-one-half-times as hard as Oak (Quercus ), about twenty-five percent stronger in bending and compression along the grain, and fifteen percent stiffer.