Plants especially trees are the companion of man since his appearance on this planet.Glancing through the history of civilisation one find that forests were closely related to the life of man. The collection and production of woodlands  was in practice during the fourth century BC., about 10,000 years ago. The 'Wood', play a significant  role in strengthening the economy of a nation. 'Wood' is made up of a special type of cell called 'Fibre Cell'. These cells contain a white substance called, 'Cellulose' which appears brown after lignin coating. The fibre cells only make a timber heavier and stronger. The forest trees which yield wood are broadly categorised as 'hardwoods' and 'softwoods'. The  majority of Indian forest trees like sal, teak, shisham, eucalyptus etc, are among the hardwoods whereas the needle - leaf trees like conifers, deodar, pine constitute the softwood group.

Gluta travancorica

    A large evergreen tree abundant in the dense, moist forest of the Tirunelveli and Travancore ghats. It belongs to the family 'Anacardiaceae'. The sapwood of the plant is light-reddish-grey; heart wood is dark-red, very hard and close - grained, beautifully mottled with dark and light streaks. The wood is little used, but its splendid colour and markings made it as a valuable wood for furniture. It is an endemic taxa. The wood is kept in the South Indian Timber show-case in the Systematic Botany Gallery.

Mesua ferra
Iron Wood

     An evergreen tree, grows wild in the mountains of Eastern Bengal, the Eastern Himalayas, Assam, Burma, South India, Ceylon and the Andamans. Also cultivated in other parts of India. It  belongs to the family 'Clusiaceae'. It is an endemic taxa, the 'heart wood' of the plant is dark, red, extremely hard. It is highly prized for the posts in buildings, bridges, gunstocks and tool handles. It is displayed under the South Indian Timber show-case in the systematic botany gallery.

Hopea parviflora

    A large handsome tree, common in both the moist and dry forests of Malabar and South Kanara up to 31,500 feet. It belongs to the family 'Dipterocarpaceae'. It is an endemic taxa. The plant wood is hard, brown and closely grained. The wood is hardly known commercially. It is of great value for gun carriage purposes and it is much valued for temple building purposes. The wood is exhibited in the South Indian Timber show-case in the Systematic Botany Gallery.

   'Wood Carving', is a traditional art of India. Wood Carving has been in vogue since the dawn of civilisation. It has been developed into an art, down the centuries. Wood Carving is the forerunner of both Sculpture and Architecture. It has, however been observed that hand carved articles have better aesthetic value than those prepared by the exclusive use of machines. These articles are noted for their intricacy of details, elegance and sturdiness. Some of the finest examples of wood carvings are found in the South Indian Timber show-case in the Systematic Botany Gallery. The wood carving on display depicts the worship of Sivalinga by Sri Rama.