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. Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Anogeissus leiocarpus Trade Name Akulia Family Name Combretaceae Synonyms Anogeissus leiocarpa, Anogeissus schimperi Common Names Akulia, Anem, Anogeissus, Anyi, Atara, Ayin, Chewstick, Chleho, Echeche, Hihe, Kakanla, Kakanli, Kane, Kanna, Kodelia, Kojoli, Makire, Ogo, Orin-odan, Sakane, Shiga, Sia, Tcheean, Tsetse Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo Common Uses Agricultural implements, Billiard-cue butts, Boat building (general), Charcoal, Decks, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Shade rollers, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats Heartwood Color Black Brown Yellow Orange Dark brown Black Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Grain Wavy Interlocked Closed Even Straight Wavy Interlocked Straight Texture Fine Fine Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Resistant to termites Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Checking Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight twist/warp Moderate spring/bow Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Difficult Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Strength Properties Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = >75 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10732 16695 psi Density 57 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1987 lbs Impact Strength 54 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5905 8762 psi Shearing Strength 2686 psi Stiffness 1188 1383 1000 psi Weight 56 48 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 754 1173 kg/cm2 Density 913 kg/m3 Hardness 901 kg Impact Strength 137 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 415 616 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 188 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 97 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 897 769 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Ashiabor, W.K.,1968,The Properties of Afzelia africana, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Cynometra,anata, Guibourtia ehie, Tectona grandis,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Ghana Tech. Note,No.6 Banks, C.H.,1970,The Durability of South African Wood and Wood Base Building Materials,South African Forestry Journal,No.75 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 Ghana - Timber Marketing Board,1969,Ghana Hardwoods,Timber Marketing Board Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Kinloch, D., Miller, W.A.,1949,Gold Coast Timbers,Govt. Printer Gold Coast Nigeria Department of Forest Research,1967,The Properties of Some Savanna Timber Trees,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Report, No.11 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 Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London