Origin: It is indigenous to India and distributed in the sub-Himalayan tract of eastern U.P to Sikkim. It also occurs in central, western and southern India.
Climate: Maximum temperature ranges from 38°C to 50°C and minimum temperature ranges from 0°C to 15°C and the annual rainfall ranges from 750mm to 5000mm.
Soils: It occurs in a variety of soils and geological formations but it attains best development in well-drained deep moist soils.
Silvicultural characters: Though in early stages it tolerates enough shade, it is a moderate light demander because its best development takes place when it gets complete overhead light. As compared to Sissoo, it is more frost tender. Though affected by drought in early stages, it is drought resistant in tree stage. It coppices well and produces root-suckers in large numbers.
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Flowers | Leaves | Pods |
Nursery practices: Seeds of rosewood ripen at different times in different states but in an average, the best time for seed collection can be said to be February - March. Seed weighs from 18 to 40 per gm. Seeds are sown in nursery in mother bed in March, shading regular watering and weedings have to be done during summer to enable seedlings to attain good plantable size by July. If polythene bag plants are to be planted, seed should be sown either directly in the bag or pricked out from nursery mother bed when they are 5 to 8cm high. Planting is done in field in pits dug 1.2m² or 1.8 m².
Plant Protection: Rosewood is not so fire hardy as teak. It does withstand annual fires, however but benefits from protection. Seedlings and saplings are readily browsed by cattle and goats. Light grazing helps to put down weeds and benefit its growth but heavy uncontrolled grazing is injurious.
Uses: The wood is very hard, close grained strong, durable, ornamental and is used for a large number of purposes such as for furniture, paneling, ornamental work, ordinance work, agricultural implements, etc. It is exported to Europe under the name of rosewood or Bombay blockwood. Wood is also used for making cart wheels, gun carriages.
