Albizia Falcataria (Batai)

Scientific Name
Albizia falcataria

Trade Name
Batai

Family Name
Leguminosae

Synonyms
Albizia falcata, Albizia falcataria, Albizia moluccana

Common Names
Albizzia, Bae, Batai, Celon sau, Ceylon sau, Jeungjing, Kayu machis, Molaccana-koroi, Molucca, Molucca albizzia, Moluccan sau, Moluccana koroi, Puah, Rare, Ratamara, Seka, Selawaku, Selawaku merah, Selawoku, Sengon laut, Sika, Sika bot, Sikas, Solomon Islands albizia, Tawa sela, Tawa selia, Tedehu dute, Wahogen, Wahogon, Wai, White albizia, White albizzia, Wikkie

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Bangladesh, Hawaii [US], Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands

Common Uses
Balusters, Barrels, Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Core Stock, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Farm vehicles, Fiberboard, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Pallets, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Shingles, Tables, Veneer, Wheels

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
Native to the eastern islands of the Indonesian archipelago (Moluccas) and New Guinea, this species has been spread to Southeast Asia from Burma to the Philippines, and introduced locally in tropical Africa and America. It seems to thrive on many soils, alluvial soils, laterites, sandy mining soil, and white sands. Ranging from Subtropical Moist to Wet through Tropical Moist to Wet Forest Life Zones, probably tolerates annual precipitation of 20 to 45 dm and annual temperature of 20 to 28�C. In Hawaii the tree is planted as both an ornamental and a forest tree.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Growth Defects

Natural Durability

Odor

Strong odor when green which disappears after it is dried

Light-Induced Color Change

Toxicity

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

Comments
Abnormal Wood Tissue

General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect

Blunting effect is slight when tension wood is absent

Boring

Cutting Resistance

Growth stresses may cause pinching of saw blades,

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
Bolza, E. and N. H. Kloot. 1966. The Mechanical Properties of 81 New Guinea Timbers. Technological Paper No. 41. Division of Forest Products. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.

Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1976,The Mechanical Properties of 81 New Guinea Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Building Res. Tec.Paper (2nd series) 11

Bolza, E.,1975,Properties and Uses of 175 Timber Species from Papua New Guinea and West,Irian,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Building Research Report,no.34

Bolza, E.,1981,The Mechanical properties of 33 Solomon Islands timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Building Research. Technical Paper (2nd series) No.37

Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods – Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Dilip Kumar Das,1990,Wood Anatomy of Koroi (Albizia Spp.) of Bangladesh,Bangladesh Forest Research Institute, Chittagong, Bulletin 10 Wood Anatomy,Series

Eddowes, P.J. 1977. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea – Their Properties and Uses. Forest Products Research Center, Office of Forests, Department of Primary Industry, Papua New Guinea.

Eddowes, P.J.,1977,Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea: Their Properties and Uses,Hebano Press, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Gerhards, C.C.,1966,Physical and Mechanical Properties of Molucca Albizzia grown in Hawaii,US Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Products Lab. Madison Wis.,Research Paper FPL_55

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Kartasujana, I., Martawijaya, A.,1973,Commercial Woods of Indonesia,Forest Products Research Institute, Department Pertanian, Bogor Indonesia,Report No.3

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,1

Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.

Lee, Y.H., Lopez, D.T.,1968,The Machining Properties of some Malayan Timbers,Malayan Forester,3,pp194-210

Limaye, V.D. 1954. Grouping of Indian Timbers and their Properties, Uses and Suitability. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 2, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India.

Limaye, V.D. and B.R. Sen. 1953. Weights and Specific Gravities of Indian Woods. Indian Forest Records, New Series. Timber Mechanics, Vol. 1, No. 4, Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, India.

Peh, T.B. and Khoo, K.C.,1984,Timber Properties of Acacia mangium, Gmelina arborea, Paraserianthes,falcataria and their utilization aspects.,The Malaysian Forester, Vol.47, No.4, pp.285-303.

Salleh, M.N. and W.C. Wong,1989,Utilization of Forest Plantation Trees.,Recent Developments in Tree,Plantations of Humid/Subhumid Tropics of Asia, 5-9 June 1989 Universiti,Pertanian Malaysia Proceedings of a Regional Symposium,Faculty of Forestry Universiti Pertanian Malaysia

Skolmen, R.G.,1974,Some woods of Hawaii, properties and uses of 16 commercial species,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Forest,and Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report PSW_8

Solomon Islands, Ministry of Natural Resources, Forestry Division,1979,Solomon Islands Timbers – Minor Species,Solomon Islands, Ministry of Natural Resources, Forestry Division, Honiara,Timber Booklet 2

Tamolang, F.R. and Rocafort, J.E.,1987,Physico-Mechanical Properties and Possible Uses of Eleven Plantation-Grown,Timber Species in the Philippines,FPRDI-Journal 16:1-2,75-85

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing – Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

Yoji Kikata (ed.,1991,The promotion of Lesser-known Species and Plantation-grown species,Proceedings of the International Forest Products Workshop, 14 to 15,October, 1991, Nagoya University, Japan