Botanical Name - Xylia dolabriformis

----- Xylia, Benth.; F.B.I. II-286. X. dolabriformis, Benth.; F.B.I. II-286. Brandi's Ind. Trees, 262. Gamble's Ind. Timbers, 285. Vern. Boja, Penanged, Tangedu, Tel. The Ironwood tree of Pegu and Arracan.

----- A large deciduous tree. Bark grey or reddish-brown with short cracks irregularly distributed. Leaves tripinnate. Leaflets 2-6 pairs, oblong-acuminate, 3-9 in. long. Flowers pale yellow, in globose long-pedunculate heads. Calyx tubular, wider at mouth, 5-toothed; teeth short. Petals 5, linear, cohering at the base, little longer than the calyx. Stamens 10. free exserted; anthers with small stipitate deciduous glands. Ovary sessile, many-ovuled. Pod flat, thick, woody, 4-6 in. long, 2-2 1/2 in. wide at the broadest part, 2-valved, opening suddenly. Seeds 6-10, compressed, testa brown, shining.

----- This valuable timber tree is best known as the " Pyngado " of Burmah, where it is one of the most important timber trees and the chief associate of Teak in the forests. It is met with in the Hyderabad forests in many parts in varying abundance, but chiefly along the Godavari. Gamble mentions, " On good and suitable soil it reaches a large size, 90-100 ft. in height with 0-12 ft. in girth; on poor soil, it remains a comparatively small tree and the bole is often twisted and knotty and only too often unsound within." The latter condition of growth is most noticeable in the Hyderabad forests, hence, perhaps, its not being included as one of the Reserved species and also because of its not being more generally common and plentiful. It should, however, be protected and its growth encouraged, as wherever it occurs, there is always, abundant young reproduction and is suitable places it grows well and attains a useful size. In the forests along the Godavari, the average size reached is about 8 in. in diameter, or about 2 ft. in girth, while logs up to 3 ft. in girth and about 20 ft. long are also procurable. It is almost, or quite, gregarious; and its reproduction is generally very good; seedlings appear abundantly near and about old trees, and as they grow fast, soon establish themselves. The wood is very durable, due, doubtless, to the resinous substances contained in it. The heart-wood is of dark-brown or reddish-brown colour, extremely hard, cross-grained, the fibres on a longitudinal section being wavy; annual rings indistinct; sapwood small. The chief use of the wood is for railway sleepers, large numer of which are exported from Burma. The local uses are for house-posts, agricultural implements, carts, and tool handles. The heartwood is as impervious to white ants as Teak and is even more durable in the ground. It would afford an excellent wood for furniture, but for its weight and extreme hardness. It resists nails which cannot be driven into it. 60 lbs. per c ft. is given as the average weight. It flowers white leadess during the hot weather in April and May and the Fruit which is a thick woody legume appears in the ensuing cold season.