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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules 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 Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Scytopetalium tieghemii Trade Name Am-bibia Family Name Scytopetalaceae Common Names Am-bibia, Amene, Anene, Aprim, Degbeme-weli, Degbeme-yawii, Dueke, Eprim, Moussanghoue, Papa-kone, Penim, Sourwood, Sumie, Sumili, Zeb-blo Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mine timbers, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods Heartwood Color Brown White Yellow Orange Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Sapwood Color Brown Yellow White White to yellow Grain Figure Even Other (figure) Straight Other figure Straight Texture Even or uniform Uniform Coarse Medium Medium Medium to coarse Luster Low Dull Natural Durability Durable Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Perishable Non durable Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi Odor Has an odor Silica Content High Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Discoloration Distortion Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Reconditioning Treatement Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 50-60 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Polishing Surface Preparation Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Surface Preparation Very Good to Excellent Results Varnishing Surface Preparation Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13576 20956 psi Density 45 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1326 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5408 8171 psi Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Weight 44 35 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 954 1473 kg/cm2 Density 721 kg/m3 Hardness 601 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 380 574 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 705 560 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % 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 Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T 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