Timber iQ October - November 2017 // Issue: 34 | Page 58

CONTRIBUTORS - WOOD WORKS
Looking at syringa
We are all familiar with the creamy yellow berries and fragrant lilac
flowers of this once popular ornamental tree, but few are aware of
the attractive and useful wood it produces, hence the inclusion of
syringa in the Wood Works series.
By Stephanie Dyer
Syringa tree showing characteristic yellow berries.
T
he scientific name Melia azedarach is of the genus
name, Melia, which is the classical Greek name for the
ash tree and a species epithet, azedarach, from the
Persian name azad dirakht, meaning noble tree. The
species belongs to the mahogany family and is a medium-
sized to large deciduous tree with a rounded to spreading
crown. The bark is brown to grey, smooth or with narrow
lengthwise fissures.
It has compound leaves of which the margins in the
upper-half of leaflets are saw-toothed. The clusters of
fleshy berries, which stay on the tree after the leaves have
fallen, are reported to be poisonous to humans if eaten in
large amounts, but birds can over-indulge without any
harmful effects. The leaves, flowers and bark are also
reported to be poisonous. In the past, the stones (seeds) in
the berries were used to make rosaries.
The natural habitat of the tree ranges from India, China,
through south-east Asia to tropical Australia. It has been
introduced into many countries, including the US, West
56 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2017 //
Indies, Mexico, Central America and parts of South
America. It was a popular ornamental tree in South Africa,
but has become invasive in many areas and therefore
declared a Category 1b invader and Category 3 in urban
areas, which means that it may not be planted anymore.
The wood produced by this tree is quite attractive,
resembling Teak (Tectona grandis), but is generally under-
appreciated and under-used. The wood is relatively soft
and light with an average air-dry density of 600kg/m 3 . It
dries, works and finishes easily. The wood is not durable
for exterior applications, but suitable for small furniture
pieces, decorative veneer, interior finishings, turnery,
novelties, cigar and presentation boxes, toys and sports
equipment. It was used for wagon naves in the past. The
wood is not commercially available, but if a large
ornamental tree is felled, it will be worthwhile to process
this useful wood.
See more on page 58