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Dalbergia sissoo

Authority	Roxb. ex DC.
Family	Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Fabales:Leguminosae
Synonyms
Common names	Indian rosewood, shisham, sisso, sissoo
Editor
Ecocrop code	5192

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A medium-sized deciduous or almost evergreen tree that can reach a height of 10-15 m in arid and semiarid regions but up to 30 m under irrigation or in high rainfall areas. The trunk is often crooked and may be up to 80 cm in diameter. It has a rounded open crown with spreading branches. USES Timber used for quality cabinet work and furniture. Also used for general construction, paneling, boat and shipbuilding, poles, posts, boxes, carving, and plywood and firewood and charcoal. The tree is planted for shade and young branches and foliage can be used as fodder. GROWING PERIOD Fast-growing perennial. Under optimal conditions the tree can reach nearly 4 m in 1 year and 9-11 m in 5 years. Can be grown on 10 years rotations. Withstands 3-4 months of drought. COMMON NAMES Sissoo, Sissau, Shisham, Sissu, Sisu, Tali, Sarsou, Nelkar, Karra, Tanach, Shewa, Yette, Sonossissoo, Indian rosewood, Bombay blackwood, Sefeda. FURTHER INF Sissoo is indigenous to northern India, Nepal and Pakistan. In the Himalayan, the tree can be found at altitudes between sea level and 1700 m. The tree occur naturally within the latitudinal range of 23-30°N. It is drought hardy. It is typically found in or along the the beds of streams and rivers descending valleys for some distance out on the plains. It colonizes landslides and exposed mineral soils. The tree fixes nitrogen and is mentioned as a possible agroforestry species. Annual wood production potential is 5-8 m3/ha, optimum annual wood production recorded is 15 m3/ha, grown on 10 years rotations. The tree needs protection against fire and animal browsing.
Sources
Grassland Index Webb D 1984 pp 137 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, LIG, USE] Edwards S 1984 pp 225 Shrestha B 1989 pp 129 Troup R 1921 pp 294 Aronson J 1989 pp 66 Goodin J 1990 pp 38 Puri S 1992 pp 46-2 National RC 1983c pp 60-61 [USE, TEMP, KTMP, RAIN, TEXT, FER, LIMITS] National RC 1979 pp 199 INSPIRE species 54 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, LIG, USE] Little E 1983 pp 105-108 [RAIN, KTMP, TEMP, TEXT, DRA, FER, USE] Hensleight T 1988 pp 376 [TEMP, KTMP, RAIN, TEXT, DRA, USE] Zabala N 1990 pp 109-112 [KTMP, TEMP, RAIN, TEXT, DRA, LIG, USE] Soerianegara I 1993 pp 155-160 [USE, RAIN, PH, DRA]