In this article, we will discuss Important Species of Trees and their Utility (Woods from Monsoon Forests). So, let’s get started.
Woods of Monsoon Forests
The main trees of the Monsoon Forests are as under:
(i) Sal (Shorea Robusta): It occurs in the sub-Himalayan region from Kangra (Himachal Pradesh) to Darrang (Assam), Meghalaya and the northern parts of Tamil Nadu. Its wood is very heavy, hard and durable. It is much in demand for piles, doors, beams, planking and railway sleepers, Sal forests occupy 11.6 lakh hectares, accounting for about 16% of the total forest area of the country.
(ii) Teak (Tectona Grandis): Teak is the most popular tree of the Monsoon climate found mainly in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, the foothills of Himalayas, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, the western and eastern Ghats, and Banswara (Rajasthan). Its wood is moderately hard, duarable, easy to work and takes a good polish. It is an expensive timber used for door, cupboards, and furniture. Teak forests cover about 9 million hectares of the total forest area of the country.
(iii) Shisham (Dalbergia Sissoo): It occurs throughout the Himalayas from Jammu to Assam up to an altitude of 1500 m. It grows extensively in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and West Bengal. On account of its great strength, elasticity and durability, its wood is mainly used in furniture making, musical instruments, and agricultural equipments.
(iv) Haldu: It is found all over the Monsoon area. Its wood is hard,. durable, and light in colour. It is used for toy making and wood carving.
(v) Palas: It occurs mainly in Chotanagur Plateau, Chhattisgarh, and south-eastern parts of Rajasthan. Its leaves are used for rearing shellac worms.
(vi) Arjun: It is also an important tree of Monsoon forest which is used for the making of agricultural equipments and bullock carts.
(vii) Mahua (Madhuca Indica): It is largely found in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh Bundelkhand (UP), Jharkhand, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and south-eastern parts of Rajasthan. Its fruits are used for the extraction of oil and flowers for wine making.
(viii) Semul: It is widely found in Assam, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu. Its timber is soft and white and is used for toy making, packing cases, match boxes, and plywood. Its fruit yield soft fibre for pillows and lihafs.
(ix) Mulberry: It grows widely in monsoon areas. Its wood is soft and durable, used mainly for the manufacture of sports goods (hockey, cricket bats, tennis rackets, badminton and squash rackets, and cricket stumps).
(x) Jamun (Syzygium cumini): It is a large tree of monsoon region. Its timber is moderately strong and used for the construction of houses and furniture. Its fruits are highly beneficial in controlling diabetes and high blood pressure.
