Cedrela serrata Royle.

Description :

A medium sized, deciduous tree, 20 m tall and with a diameter of 0.50 to 0.60 m. The leaves are compound, feathery usually 35 to 80 cm long. The bark is thick and rough. The flowers are in drooping bunches, up to 0.5 m long. They are pinkish and develop between May and June. The fruit is a capsule 2.5 to 3 cm long. The seed is 1.5 cm long, winged at the upper end, and matures between June and July. It has no known insect or disease problems. It is reproduced both from seed and by vegetative means. Growth rates are high. Average diameter growth of 2.5 cm/yr has been recorded. Grains are straight, coarse with an uneven texture. Heartwood is red to reddish brown. With Specific gravity of 0.49, having heavy strength.

Distribution :

The tree is native to India, Pakistan, Nepal and Burma. It has been successfully cultivated in the foothill areas of Swat, Murree, Hazara, and Azad Kashmir. An aggressive pioneer that will quickly occupy exposed landslides, areas among loose boulders and sides of ravines. Prefers moist soils that are well drained. It grows on a variety of soils, as long as the water table is close to the soil surface. It requires a precipitation zone of 500 to 1250 mm/yr or more, within an elevation range of 1000 to 2500 m. It prefers a humid cool temperate to sub-tropical monsoon climate with a temperature range of -10 to 30°C. It is frost hardy and will coppice easily.

Uses :

It has potential as a farm forestry tree especially in foothill areas. It is considered a valuable timber tree. Also used in furniture, heavy construction, fodder, and sleepers.