Dalbergia sissoo
Encyclopedia
Dalbergia sissoo, known as Shisham, is an erect deciduous tree, native to the Indian Subcontinent
. It is also called sissoo, sisu, sheesham, tahli and sometimes referred to as Indian Rosewood
. It is state tree of Punjab state (India) and provincial tree of Punjab province (Pakistan). It is primarily found growing along river banks below 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) elevation, but can range naturally up to 1300 m (4,265.1 ft). The temperature in its native range averages 10–40 °C (50–104 F), but varies from just below freezing to nearly 50 °C (122 °F). It can withstand average annual rainfall up to 2000 millimetres (78.7 in) and droughts of 3–4 months. Soils range from pure sand and gravel to rich alluvium
of river banks; shisham can grow in slightly saline soils. Seedlings are intolerant of shade. It is also the wood that the Rajasthani percussion instrument 'Kartaals' are often made from.
genus, but is also utilised as an important fuel wood and for shade and shelter. With its multiple products, tolerance of light frosts and long dry seasons, this species deserves greater consideration for tree farming, reforestation and agro forestry applications. After teak
, it is the most important cultivated timber tree of the Bihar - which is the largest producer of shisham timber in India and Pakistan, although it is the provincial tree of the Pakistani Punjab
. In Bihar
, the tree is planted on roadsides, along canals and as a shade tree for tea plantations
. It is also commonly planted in southern Indian cities like Bangalore as a street tree.
Dalbergia sissoo is known to contain the neoflavonoid
dalbergichromene
in its stem-bark and heartwood.
Shisham is among the finest cabinet and veneer
timbers. The heartwood is golden to dark brown, and sapwood
white to pale brownish white. The heartwood is extremely durable (the specific gravity
is 0.7 – 0.8) and is very resistant to dry-wood termites; but the sapwood is readily attacked by fungi and borers. It is used for plywood
, agricultural and musical instruments, as well as skis, carvings, boats, floorings, etc.
for heating and cooking.
. It can grow up to a maximum of 25 m (82 ft) in height and 2 metre in diameter, but is usually smaller. Trunks are often crooked when grown in the open. Leaves are leathery, alternate, pinnately compound and about 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Flowers are whitish to pink, fragrant, nearly sessile, up to 1.5 cm (0.590551181102362 in) long and in dense clusters 5 centimetre in length. Pods are oblong, flat, thin, strap-like 4 centimetre long, 1 cm (0.393700787401575 in) wide and light brown. They contain 1–5 flat bean-shaped seeds 8 millimetre long. They have a long taproot and numerous surface roots which produce suckers. Young shoots are downy and drooping; established stems with light brown to dark gray bark to 2.5 cm (0.984251968503937 in) thick, shed in narrow strips; large upper branches support a spreading crown.
sun.
effect against eggs of the freshwater snail Biomphalaria pfeifferi
.
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
. It is also called sissoo, sisu, sheesham, tahli and sometimes referred to as Indian Rosewood
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
. It is state tree of Punjab state (India) and provincial tree of Punjab province (Pakistan). It is primarily found growing along river banks below 900 metres (2,952.8 ft) elevation, but can range naturally up to 1300 m (4,265.1 ft). The temperature in its native range averages 10–40 °C (50–104 F), but varies from just below freezing to nearly 50 °C (122 °F). It can withstand average annual rainfall up to 2000 millimetres (78.7 in) and droughts of 3–4 months. Soils range from pure sand and gravel to rich alluvium
Alluvium
Alluvium is loose, unconsolidated soil or sediments, eroded, deposited, and reshaped by water in some form in a non-marine setting. Alluvium is typically made up of a variety of materials, including fine particles of silt and clay and larger particles of sand and gravel...
of river banks; shisham can grow in slightly saline soils. Seedlings are intolerant of shade. It is also the wood that the Rajasthani percussion instrument 'Kartaals' are often made from.
Timber
Shisham is best known internationally as a premier timber species of the rosewoodRosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
genus, but is also utilised as an important fuel wood and for shade and shelter. With its multiple products, tolerance of light frosts and long dry seasons, this species deserves greater consideration for tree farming, reforestation and agro forestry applications. After teak
Teak
Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...
, it is the most important cultivated timber tree of the Bihar - which is the largest producer of shisham timber in India and Pakistan, although it is the provincial tree of the Pakistani Punjab
Punjab (Pakistan)
Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan, with approximately 45% of the country's total population. Forming most of the Punjab region, the province is bordered by Kashmir to the north-east, the Indian states of Punjab and Rajasthan to the east, the Pakistani province of Sindh to the...
. In Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, the tree is planted on roadsides, along canals and as a shade tree for tea plantations
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
. It is also commonly planted in southern Indian cities like Bangalore as a street tree.
Dalbergia sissoo is known to contain the neoflavonoid
Neoflavonoid
Neoflavonoids are a class of polyphenolic compounds. While flavonoids have the 2-phenylchromen-4-one backbone, neoflavonoids have the 4-phenylchromen backbone with no hydroxyl group substitution at position 2.-Types:...
dalbergichromene
Dalbergichromene
Dalbergichromene is a neoflavene, a type of neoflavonoids which are themselves a type of polyphenolic compounds. Dalbergichromene can be extracted from the stem-bark and heartwood of Dalbergia sissoo...
in its stem-bark and heartwood.
Shisham is among the finest cabinet and veneer
Wood veneer
In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm , that are typically glued onto core panels to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture. They are also used in marquetry...
timbers. The heartwood is golden to dark brown, and sapwood
Sapwood
Sapwood may refer to:* Sapwood, the part of living wood where sap flows, as distinct from the heartwood, where it doesn't* SS-6 Sapwood, the NATO reporting name for the R-7 Semyorka intercontinental ballistic missile...
white to pale brownish white. The heartwood is extremely durable (the specific gravity
Relative density
Relative density, or specific gravity, is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a given reference material. Specific gravity usually means relative density with respect to water...
is 0.7 – 0.8) and is very resistant to dry-wood termites; but the sapwood is readily attacked by fungi and borers. It is used for plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
, agricultural and musical instruments, as well as skis, carvings, boats, floorings, etc.
Fuel wood
The calorific value of the sapwood and heartwood of 'excellent' fuel wood is reported to be 4,908 kcal/kg and 5,181 kcal/kg respectively. As a fuel wood it is grown on a 10 to 15-year rotation. The tree has excellent coppicing ability, although a loss of vigor after two or three rotations has been reported. Shisham wood makes excellent charcoalCharcoal
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of carbon, and any remaining ash, obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of oxygen...
for heating and cooking.
Botany
D. sissoo is a medium to large deciduous tree with a light crown which reproduces by seeds and suckersBasal shoot
A basal shoot, root sprout, adventitious shoot, water sprout or sucker is a shoot or cane which grows from a bud at the base of a tree or shrub or from its roots. This shoot then becomes, or takes the form of, a singular plant. A plant that produces suckers is referred to as surculose...
. It can grow up to a maximum of 25 m (82 ft) in height and 2 metre in diameter, but is usually smaller. Trunks are often crooked when grown in the open. Leaves are leathery, alternate, pinnately compound and about 15 cm (5.9 in) long. Flowers are whitish to pink, fragrant, nearly sessile, up to 1.5 cm (0.590551181102362 in) long and in dense clusters 5 centimetre in length. Pods are oblong, flat, thin, strap-like 4 centimetre long, 1 cm (0.393700787401575 in) wide and light brown. They contain 1–5 flat bean-shaped seeds 8 millimetre long. They have a long taproot and numerous surface roots which produce suckers. Young shoots are downy and drooping; established stems with light brown to dark gray bark to 2.5 cm (0.984251968503937 in) thick, shed in narrow strips; large upper branches support a spreading crown.
Propagation
Propagation takes place most commonly by root suckers and also by seeds. The seeds remain viable for only a few months. Seeds should be soaked in water for 48 hours before sowing and 60% – 80% germination can be expected in 1–3 weeks. Seedlings require partial sun or fullsun.
Toxicology
Ethanolic extract of the fruits of Dalbergia sissoo exhibited molluscicideMolluscicide
Molluscicides, also known as snail baits and snail pellets, are pesticides against molluscs, which are usually used in agriculture or gardening to control gastropod pests like slugs and snails that can damage crops by feeding on them....
effect against eggs of the freshwater snail Biomphalaria pfeifferi
Biomphalaria pfeifferi
Biomphalaria pfeifferi is a species of air-breathing freshwater snail, an aquatic pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Planorbidae, the ram's horn snails.This snail is a medically important pest, because of transferring the disease schistosomiasis....
.