Dalbergia sissoo, also known as North Indian rosewood or shisham, is a deciduous rosewood tree native to the Indian subcontinent and southern Iran. D. sissoo is a crooked, large tree with long, leathery leaves and pink or whitish flowers.

 

The species known as Dalbergia sissoo is widely recognized as a high-quality type of rosewood that is traded internationally. However, it also serves as an important source of fuelwood, while also providing shade, shelter, and fodder. Given its ability to produce multiple products, withstand light frosts, and tolerate long dry seasons, this species could benefit from greater attention for agroforestry applications.

Sheesham wood is derived from a tree that goes by several names, including Indian rosewood, Dalbergia Sissoo, and Penny leaf. It is commonly found growing in the wild in India and the sub-Himalayan region. What sets this wood apart is that no two pieces look alike. Did you know that Sheesham wood and teak furniture are the most popular types of wood? Sheesham wood is both pliable and durable, making it an excellent choice for creating long-lasting furniture in various styles. Beds made of Sheesham wood have a longer lifespan compared to those made of other types of wood.

It is worth noting that Sheesham is classified as a hardwood, which is an interesting characteristic. Hardwoods come from dicot trees found in tropical forests, and they grow at a slower pace and are generally larger than softwood trees. The lignin lining in their xylem vessels makes hardwood trees much stronger than softwood trees. Hardwood trees are not only strong, but they also have a longer lifespan. Additionally, they are known for their fire resistance, resistance to splitting, and other unique characteristics. Sheesham is a prime example of a hardwood.

The most common use of Sheesham wood is for timber. While it is best known for being an internationally traded rosewood species, it is also used as fuelwood and for providing shade and shelter. Bihar produces most of India's Sheesham timber after teak, making it the most important timber tree cultivated in the region. You can find the tree lining roadsides and canals, and serving as a shade tree in tea plantations in Bihar. It is also a popular choice as a street tree in southern Indian cities like Bangalore.

Before being used in furniture production, North Indian rosewood is typically seasoned, a process that involves drying it for about 6 months in open areas in the local area. It can also be dried commercially for 7-15 days in closed chambers with hot-air circulation, depending on weather conditions. The ideal moisture level for thinner pieces is around 5-6 per cent, while thicker ones can have up to 11 per cent. If the moisture level is lower than this, the final products may unexpectedly crack. North Indian rosewood is an excellent choice for cabinet and veneer woods and is used to make a variety of products, including plywood, agricultural tools, flooring, bentwood, turning, and musical instruments.

The sapwood of the Sheesham tree is white to pale brownish-white, while the heartwood is golden to dark brown. The heartwood is resistant to fungi and has a specific gravity of 0.7–0.8, but the sapwood is easily attacked by dry-wood termites and borers. Researchers have discovered the neoflavonoid dalbergichromene in the stem bark and heartwood of D. sissoo.

 

Both the sapwood and the heartwood have a high calorific value, with 4,908 kcal/kg and 5,181 kcal/kg, respectively. It is grown on a 10- to 15-year rotation as a fuel wood. Although the tree has excellent coppicing ability, it has been reported to lose vigour after two or three rotations. For heating and cooking, the wood makes excellent charcoal.

 

Slender tree twigs (called datum) are traditionally chewed as a toothbrush and then split to clean the tongue. For centuries, this practice has been practised in Pakistan, Africa, and the Middle East. The wood has been used in India's Siddha medicine system to treat skin disorders and stomach problems. Many of India's 80 per cent rural population still begin their day by brushing their teeth with a twig of Salvadora persica or Azadirachta indica. Shisham twigs are still collected and sold in markets in other parts of the world for this purpose in rural areas.

 

An ethanolic extract of D. sissoo fruits had molluscicidal effects on the eggs of Biomphalaria pfeifferi, a freshwater snail.

 

According to the Samargaa Stradhra, a Sanskrit treatise dealing with ilpastra, the juice of this plant is a potent ingredient for a mixture of wall plaster (Hindu science of art and construction).