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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 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 Product Sources 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 Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Staudtia stipitata Trade Name Niove Family Name Myristicaceae Common Names Ang-menga-menga, Bocapi, Bokapi, Bope, Bope bambale, Bosasa, Bufoki, Camashi, Ekop, Kamashi, M'bonda, M'boun, Mbon, Mboun, Memenga, Memengue, Menga menga, Menhunga, Mogoubi, Molanga, Mougoubi, Muingi, Niove, Nkafi, Okopi, Oropa, Somye menga, Sunzu, Susu menga, Susumenga, Wanga Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Brush backs & handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Oars, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview This large forest tree grows in the lowland rainforests from Nigeria to Zaire in Africa. Heartwood Color Red Brown Yellow Orange White Purple Black Pink Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Red Yellowish brown Orange brown Dark brown streaks Sapwood Color White Yellow Green/Grey White to yellow Yellow - pale Well defined Pinkish Paler than heartwood Brown - orange May be up to 4 inches (10 cm) in width. Grain Straight Even Figure Weak (figure) Straight Weak figure Texture Coarse Medium Fine Fine to medium Very fine Luster Slightly lustrous Occasionally oily Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to termites Durable Perishable Resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Well suited for exterior applications Weathering properties are excellent Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack Heartwood is very resistant to decay and termite attack Odor Has a taste Spicy scent Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Checking Extension of Existing Shakes Ring Shakes Moderate surface checking Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting End-checking is slight Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Requires special attention Requires carefully controlled drying to prevent degrade Moderate Easy Dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Very slow Drying rate is slow Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced frequently but exported only occasionally and in low quantities. Comments Bark contains clear sap which turns rapidly to reddish-brown General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Medium effect Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Tungsten-Carbibe tipped cutters and/ or a narrow pitch are recommended Slowly but fairly easily Band and frame saws are easy to use Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to glue Easy to glue Surface preperation improves gluing Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Finishes well Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Small Stable Medium Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Possible if prebored Difficult to nail Thin boards are prone to split Nailing properties are rated as moderate Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is highly resistant Material accepts creosote to use in marine applications Highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Yields a smooth, clean finish Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding The sanding finish is generally good Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Pre-boring recommended Relatively easy to screw Pre-boring recommended Possible if prebored Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for slicing Bolt preparation requires steaming Suitable for slicing No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Easy to cut Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Very poor Painting Poor results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Finish is generally satisfactory