Terminalia tomentosa

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Terminalia tomentosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Myrtales Family: Combretaceae Genus: Terminalia Species: T. tomentosa
Binomial name
Terminalia tomentosa ( Roxb.)Wight& Arn.

Terminalia tomentosa is a species of tree found widely in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is a prominent part of both dry and moist deciduous forests in southern India up to 1000m.

Its casual name is crocodile bark due to the characteristic bark pattern. Other common names are: Indian Laurel, Taukkyan (Burma), Sadar, Matti, Asan, Marda (India). Trees may reach a height of 100 ft and more with clear, straight boles to 70 ft and trunk diameters of about 3 ft. The trees are fire resistant.

The wood is coarse, fairly straight grained, dull to somewhat lustrous and without characteristic odor or taste.The heartwood varies from light brown with few markings to dark brown or brownish black and figured with darker streaks. The sapwood is reddish white and sharply differentiated. The heartwood is moderately durable and the sapwood is liable to powder-post beetle attack.

Contents 1 Uses of the wood 2 Other uses 3 See also 4 External Links

[edit] Uses of the wood

Furniture, cabinetwork, joinery, paneling, specialty items, boatbuilding, railroad crossties (treated), decorative veneers.

[edit] Other uses

Fodder: The leaves are used as fodder in Nepal. Medicine: The bark is used medicinally against diarrhoea. Oxalic acid can be extracted from it. Tannin or dyestuff: The bark and especially the fruit yield pyrogallol and catechol to dye and tan leather.

[edit] See also

List of Indian timber trees

[edit] External Links

• USDA Forest Service fact sheet

• World Agroforestry Centre database entry