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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 Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Weathering Scientific Name Rauwolfia macrophylla Trade Name Essombo Family Name Common Names Essombo Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon Common Uses Balusters, Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hardboards, Hatracks, Interior construction, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stairworks Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Green/grey Purple Black Red Ranges from yellow to pale brown. Sapwood Color Yellow White Green/Grey Brown Pale colored Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Typically straight Texture Coarse Medium Fine Luster Medium High Natural Durability Durable Very durable Moderately durable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Susceptible to termite attack Susceptible to pinhole borer Susceptible to marine borer attack Weathering Excellent Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Seasons readily Dries with little degrade especially if allowed to dry on stump before felling Dries rapidly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Bark width is 15-20 mm Bark width is 0-5 mm Bark width is 5-10 mm Bark width is 10-15 mm Certified Source Certified Source Comments The bark and roots of the tree are reported to contain alkaloids and other medicinal substances Blunting Effect Moderate Slight bluting effect on cutting tools Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Bores readily with ordinary machine tools Carving Good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Saws without difficulty Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Satisfactory gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Responds well to mortising operations Bores readily with ordinary tools, with very good results Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good moulding properties Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Nails with little or no splitting Nails hold poorly Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Untreatable Moderate in resistance Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Good Routing & Recessing Routing is easy Sanding Yields clean surfaces Responds well Screwing Pre-boring recommended Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Responds well Veneering Qualities Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Air-Dried condition about 12% moisture content Lower in bending strength than Mahogany, and much lower than White oak. It is lower in compression strength and maximum crushing strength than teak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6762 10413 psi Maximum Crushing Strength 3381 6125 psi Shearing Strength 1568 psi Stiffness 1210 1406 1000 psi Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 475 732 kg/cm2 Maximum Crushing Strength 237 430 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 110 kg/cm2 References Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research