The tree is native to the lower Himalayas including, Pakistan and Nepal. In Pakistan it is found in the plains east of the Indus River. It has been cultivated on farmland and as ornamental tree Islamabad as avenue tree in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The heartwood distinct from sapwood.The sapwood is pinkish or grayish-white and sharply defined. The heartwood light brick-red when first exposed, turning to a rich reddish-brown usually with darker streaks on the radial surface. The wood has characteristic odour of cedary scent. The wood is straight grained, moderately closed and somewhat uneven textured.

The growth rings are distinct and wide. The wood is ring-ring porous. The springwood vessels are small to very large, s olitary, or in radial rows of 2-6 cells, open or occulated with reddish or reddish-brown gummy deposits; 6-9/mm2 in number in cross section with 72.75-232.80µ diameter. The late wood vessels are very small to small in size, 58.2-164.9µ in diameter and 13-27/mm2 in number in cross section. The wood rays are generally visible with naked eye, heterogeneous,5-9/mm2 in tangential and 9-39/mm in radial section. There are 2-24 cells (77.6-u) in ray height and 1-5 cells (29.1-10u) in ray width. The Parenchyma is found in paratracheal and metatracheal forms. The paratracheal parenchyma is relatively sparse, confined to vicinity of pores. The metatracheal parenchyma is scattered. The fibers are non-libriform, 0.75-1.43 mm long, 15.3-38.25µ in diameter with 2.55-5.01µ wall-thickness.

Cross view of Tun wood Tangential view of Tun wood Wood fibers of Tun

The timber of Toon is used for making furniture and cabinet work, house construction, joinery, foot boards and carriage building.

1. Pearson, R.S and H.P. Brown.1932. Commercial Timbers of India.pp.268-272.
2. Sheikh, M.I.1993. Trees of Pakistan. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar.pp-50.
3. Siddiqui, K.M., M. Ayaz and I. Mahmood.1996. Properties and Uses of Pakistani Timbers. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar. pp 89-90.