Persian lilac (Melia azedarach)
Family: Meliaceae
Common names: Albero di paternoster, Alelaila, Aleli, Alilaila, Anesita, Arbol de paternoster, Arbre de paternoster, Bakain, Bakayan, Bead tree, Beadtree, Belile, Bere, Bevu, Bitan, Bois rouge, Cape lilac, Chein, Chinaberry, Chinaberry lilaila, Chinaberry tree, Chinatree, Cinamomo, Cinnamomo, Dakain, Darachik, Darachk, Deknoi, Denkan, Drek, Embora, Flor de paraiso, Geringging, Hoop tree, Hutchu bevu, Indian lilac, Jacinto, Jempinis, Kachein, Kemel, Lamoa, Lelah, Lemua, Lila, Lilac, Lilas, Mallay vembu, Mementi, Menga, Mera, Mindi, Nim wood, Paraiso, Paternoster boom, Paternoster tree, Paternosterbaum, Paternostertra, Paternostertree, Pejri, Persian lilac, Tamaga, Tamaya, Taraka vepa, Thamaya, Turaka vepa, Vembu, White cedar, Yerri vepa
Distributed in: Australia, Burma, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Caledonia Island [France], New Caledonia, Sri Lanka, United States (Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: The species is native to the Himalayan region and elsewhere in southeast Asia but it has been successfully cultivated throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world as an ornamental. It is also a naturalized species in the United States, and is found from southeastern Virginia to Florida, west to Texas, and north to southeastern Oklahoma. It also grows in California. The tree is often found close to dwellings, in open areas, and sometimes in forests. It prefers to grow in dry soils.
Common uses: Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Clogs, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Fixtures, Floor lamps, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Medicinal use, Musical instruments: percussion, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rafters, Roofing, Rustic furniture, Shakes, Shingles, Siding, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural plywood, Tables , Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes, Windows
Product sources: The tree is not abundant and is of little commercial value as source of lumber. Its distribution in the United states is confined to a small area, and lumber supplies are rather limited because the wood is seldom sold commercially.
Environment profile: Status has not been officially assessed
Tree size: Tree height is 30-40 m
Colors: the heart isReddish brown, Yellowand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isStraight, the textureUnevenand the lusterPronounced
Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very durable
Odor: No specific smell or taste
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Drying Rate: Naturally dries slowly
Drying Defects: Slight twist/warp, Splitting
Ease of Drying: Slowly
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: Bark, fruit, and leaves are used for medicinal purposes General finishing qualities are rated as good
Boring: Moderately easy
Cutting Resistance: Easy to saw
Gluing: Good gluing properties
Mortising: Finishes satisfactorily
Nailing: Easy to nail, Good nailing properties
Planing: Tearing may be considerable
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Resistance to Splitting: Poor
Response to hand tools: Good response
Sanding: Good sanding finish
Veneering qualities: Veneers easily, Veneers moderately easy
Screwing: Easy to screw
; Turning: Poor results
Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Good staining properties;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,45 |
0,51 |
|
Density |
|
544 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
582 |
858 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
42 |
70 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
513 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
126 |
114 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
139 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
78 |
90 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
8 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Weight |
576 |
544 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,77 |
0,98 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
335 |
446 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 8285 | 12207 | psi | Crushing Strength | 598 | 1009 | psi | Density | | 34 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1133 | lbs | Impact Strength | 50 | 45 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 3352 | 5805 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1978 | psi | Static Bending | 4773 | 6350 | psi | Stiffness | 1121 | 1289 | 1000 psi | Work to Maximum Load | 11 | 14 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.45 | 0.51 | | Weight | 36 | 34 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 13 | | % | |
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Radial = large Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Weight = light Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Moderately resists denting and marring Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Australia - N.S.W. Forestry Commission,1988,Furniture Timbers of New South Wales,Forest Commission, N.S.W., Aust. Tech. Publication No.1Banks, 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.48Banks, C.H.,1970,The Durability of South African Wood and Wood Base Building Materials,South African Forestry Journal,No.75Berni, C.A., Bolza, E., Christensen, F.J.,1979,South American Timbers - The Characteristics, Properties and Uses of 190,Species,C.S.I.R.O Div. Building ResearchBolza, E. and N.H. Kloot.1963.The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers.Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 25.Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1963,The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.25Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 3 Southern Asia,TRADA, Red Booklet SeriesChen, C.L.,1962,The Physical Properties of 101 Chinese Woods,Forest Products Journal 12(7) pp339-42Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.Chu, Y.P.,1969,Some basic strength properties of 22 timbers from Christmas Island,Malaysian Forester 32(2) pp201-2Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15E.H. Walker,1954,Important Trees of the Ryukyu Islands,United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands Special Bulletin,No. 3Guha, S.R.D., Negi, G.S.,1965,Writing and printing paper from Melia azedarach Linn (Persian Lilac,Indian Forester 91(12) pp867-9Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1Kline, M. 1984. Melia azedarach - Chinaberry. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 233.Kribs, D.A.,1950,Commercial and Foreign Woods on the American Market (a manual to their,structure, identification, uses and distribution,U.S.A. Penn. State College, Tropical Woods LaboratoryLimaye, 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, DelhiLimaye, 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.Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.Little, E.L.1980.The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region.Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York.Nazma,1981,A handbook of Kerala Timbers,Kerala Forest Research Institute Research Report, No.9Pearson, R.S., Brown, H.P.,1932,Commercial Timbers of India,Govt. Printer Calcutta,2 volsRawat, 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, IndiaRecord, S.J.,1927,Trees of Honduras,Tropical Woods,10, pp10-47Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T.Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1Tamolang, F.N., Martawijaya, A., Kartasujana, I., Kadir, K., Parwira, S.,1992,Indonesian Wood Atlas Volume II,Department of Forestry, Agency for Forestry Research and Development,,Bogor-IndonesiaTewari, M.C., Jain, J.C.,1980,Utilization of Secondary Species,Journal of the National Building Organization 25(2) pp1-6
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