Search for

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. Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Sacoglottis gabonensis Trade Name Akouapo Family Name Humiriaceae Synonyms Aubrya occidentalis, Houmiri gabonensis Common Names Afamkokoo, Akouapo, Amuan, Atala, Attalla, Bebvo, Bidou, Bitter bark, Boboua, Cherry, Dauh, Dewe, Doh, Edat, Edoue, Efuanle, Eloue, Eruk, Essoua, Esua, Fawire, Fuale, Gbokone, Idon, Illouye, Ioon, Issoua, Itala, Kpo-weli, Kweo, Mahogany, Mosouhouga, Nche, Ndat, Niouka, Ntala, Okpi-uta, Osonga, Ozongo, Ozouga, Tala, Tiabutuo, Toboe, Tssoua, Ugu, wewe Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zaire Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Precision instruments, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Turnery, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Questionable Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview reported to grow in lowland rain forests, especially in freshwater swamp forests. Its range extends from Sierra Leone to Gabon, Zaire and Angola. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Orange Purple Black Reddish brown Red Purple-Red Purple Greenish to greyish Dark brown Brown Brown - medium value Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Pinkish Grain Even Closed Figure Wavy Straight Interlocked Distinct (figure) Weak (figure) Wavy Straight Weak figure Interlocked Distinct figure Produces a figure described as subdued and pleasing Texture Fine Even or uniform Very fine Uniform Resinous and oily Fine Medium Even textured Luster Medium Low Lustrous Natural Durability Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) The heartwood is naturally resistant to decay, and is not susceptible to attack by insects. The timber has excellent weathering properties, and is well suited for use in exterior applications, such as siding. Odor Has an odor Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking The wood has a tendency to warp and check, if it is dried too rapidly. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Requires slow and careful seasoning to prevent degrade. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 0-10 m Trunk diameter of 30 to 48 inches (80 to 120 cm) above buttresses. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory The bark is used to add a bitter taste to palm wine Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Timber responds fairly well to ordinary machine tools Carving Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Reasonably good Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Wood is hard Fairly easy with ordinary tools Gluing Surface Preparation Moderate gluing properties Good properties Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair mortising properties Difficult to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to mould Response to moulding operations is reasonably good. Movement in Service Fairly stable Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Difficult to nail Holds nails well Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Fairly good properties Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Fairly good Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly good routing response Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good characteristics Screwing Good screw holding properties Difficult to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Responds fairly well to boring Painting Surface Preparation Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Well defined Satisfactory results Staining Surface Preparation Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Hardness (side grain) = hard Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = very high Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = very hard Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high The species is considerably stronger than White oak or Teak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14488 21937 psi Density 54 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2201 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 7370 11063 psi Shearing Strength 2302 psi Stiffness 2082 2397 1000 psi Weight 53 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1018 1542 kg/cm2 Density 865 kg/m3 Hardness 998 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 518 777 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 161 kg/cm2 Stiffness 146 168 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 849 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] 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 Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Dudek, S.,1981,Lesser Known Liberian Timber Species,German Agency for Technical Cooperation Germany Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Keay, R.W.J., et al,1960,Nigerian Trees Vol.1,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Kunkel, G.,1965,The Trees of Liberia,German Forestry Mission to Liberia Report,No.3 Meniaud, J., Bretonnet, F.,1926,Les Bois Coloniaux d'Afrique dans l'Industrie,Publ. de l'Agence Gen. des Colonies Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23 Savill, P.S., Fox, J.E.D.,1967,Trees of Sierra Leone Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7 Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London Voorhoeve, A.G.,1965,Liberian High Forest Trees,Centre for Agric. Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen