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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Pterygota macrocarpa Trade Name African Pterygota Family Name Common Names African pterygota, Ake, Anatolia, Awari, Ikame, Kakende, Kefe, Koto, Kyere, Poroposo, Pterygota Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zaire Common Uses Bent Parts, Broom handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Trimming, Utility furniture, Veneer, Wainscotting, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat Status unknown in parts of its range Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Reported to grow in the lowland rain forests, especially the drier areas from Sierra Leone to Zaire in Africa. Heartwood Color Yellow White Orange White to cream Grayish tinge Sapwood Color Yellow White Pale yellow Not clearly defined from sapwood Grain Even Straight Interlocked Shallowly interlocked Quartersawn surfaces show distinct flecked figure Grain shows small knot clusters Generally straight, but not always The wood has high rays which produces a distinct flecked figure on quartersawn surfaces. Texture Fine Medium to very coarse Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart sometimes present. Natural Durability Wood in contact with gound may last only 5 years Sapwood is susceptible to wood broing insects Sapwood is susceptible to powder-post beetle Heartwood has very little resistance to decay Odor Seasoned wood has no odor or taste Green wood has disagreeable smell Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules T8 - D3s (8/4) US T10 - D4s (4/4) US Schedule H - United Kingdom Drying Defects Slight surface checking Shakes may become extended Moderate cupping Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Discoloration from sticker marks may develop Ease of Drying Easy Dries rapidly Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that this species is a regular source of timber for export. Blunting Effect Slight Carving Satisfactory results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Good gluing properties Movement in Service Moderate stability Medium Nailing Good nailing properties Planing Torn grain common in quartersawn material Reduction of cutting angle recommended Planes to a satisfactory finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Moderate working qualities Sanding Fairly good sanding characteristics Turning Satisfactory turning qualities Steam Bending Very poor Strength Properties Resists denting and marring Heavy Hardness (side grain) = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8797 14337 psi Density 37 lbs/ft3 Hardness 936 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4234 7262 psi Stiffness 1174 1716 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.5 0.54 Weight 53 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 11 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 618 1008 kg/cm2 Density 592 kg/m3 Hardness 424 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 297 510 kg/cm2 Stiffness 82 120 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.5 0.54 Weight 849 592 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 11 % References Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France. Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.