Leaf and bark pattern of Dalbergia sissoo and Dalbergia latifolia:

Dear friends,

This post has become necessary to clear the doubts among our readers about the identification of Dalbergia sissoo (Sisu) and Dalbergia latifolia (Eeti, Thothakathi, East Indian Rose wood).

• Sissoo leaves have pointing tip whereas the leaves of Latifolia are blunt and rounded.
• While the bark of D.Sissoo is dark brown, very rough thick layer and with cracks, the bark of D.Latifolia is gray in colour, thin and smooth in appearance.

Refer the following links also:
Link 1
Link 2
and my previous posts on Sissoo.

(Please note that the pictures showing leaf pattern of Dalbergia latifolia were taken with the trunk of Gmelina arborea (Kumil) in the background).

Regards,
Vishnu Sankar

Leaf pattern of Dalbergia Sissoo (Tamil : Sissoo)

Dear friends,

I am uploading this picture to help you differentiate Dalbergia sissoo from Dalbergia latifolia (Eetti, Rose wood). Sissoo leaves have pointing tip where as the leaves of Latifolia are blunt and rounded.

Leaf pattern of Sissoo:



Intricate wood carving from Sissoo wood panel:



A Dalbergia latifolia tree:




Please click the link to differentiate between Sissoo and Eetii
or 'East Indian Rose Wood' from 'Indian Rose Wood'.

Dalbergia sissoo and Dalbergia latifolia

Dear Friends,

The following clarification is necessary in order to differentiate 'East Indian Rose Wood' from 'Indian Rose Wood'.

The name Dalbergia is the Genus name and the both Dalbergia latifolia and Dalbergia sissoo are some of the important species.

Dalbergia Latifolia is the East Indian Rose Wood (Thothakathi in Tamil), which is highly valuable and the most sought after one in the market.

Whereas Dalbergia sissoo is an Indian variety (Also called as Sisu and Sheesham ) and should not be confused or compared with Dalbergia latifolia. Though D.sissoo variety yields good medium hard timber, it is an inexpensive one when compared with Dalbergia latifolia and our Indian souvenir trade sells objects made of it as if they were rosewood. Hence D.sissoo variety is called as Indian Rose Wood.

D.sissoo is a Nitrogen Fixing Tree and grows well in densely planted farms or when it is mixed with other tree varieties. Regular pruning is necessary to control it's haphazard growth.

Please refer the following link to know more about: 'Indian Rose Wood'.-Sissoo/ Sisu.

Regards,

Vishnu Sankar