This tree is native to Pakistan and is found in the Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is wild as well as extensively cultivated throughout the world, usually below 600 m in elevation.

Heart wood is distinct from heart sapwood. Sapwood whitish, heartwood pinkish-white to light-red when first exposed, turning reddish-brown with black streaks, dull, with somewhat rough feel and without characteristic odor. Grain straight or somewhat twisted and course but even textured.

The growth rings are wanting or inconspicuous and very variable in width. The wood is diffuse porous. The vessels are large to medium sized 3-11/mm2 in number with 77.6-233.1µ in diameter. The wood rays are narrows but conspicuous with the naked eyes; 1-2/mm in cross section and 6-15/mm2 tangential section. The rays were found 97-485µ in height (4-56 cells) and 29.1-67.9µ in width (2-5 cells). The parenchyma is found as paratracheal, meta-tracheal and terminal form. The fibers of Kikar wood are libriform, non-septate and sometimes gelatinous; 0.57-1.56 mm long,12.75-38.25µ in diameter with 2-4µ in wall-thickness.

Cross view of Kikar wood Tangential view of Kikar wood Wood Fibre of Kikar

Due to shortage of timber, it is being used in the manufacturing of furniture. Further, the wood is used in making of carts, oars, boats tools handles. In agriculture, it is used for plough, harrow, clod crusher, Persian wheels. Babul is an excellent timber for mine-props.

1. Pearson, R.S and H.P. Brown.1932. Commercial Timbers of India.pp439-443.
2. Sheikh, M.I.1993. Trees of Pakistan. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar.pp-100.
3. Siddiqui, K.M., M. Ayaz and I. Mahmood.1996. Properties and Uses of Pakistani Timbers. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar.pp49-50.