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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 Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Strombosia glaucescens Trade Name Afina Family Name Olacaceae Common Names Afina, Dalakadaba, Dandala, Itako, Mukundu, Nzumgambakala, Otingbo, Poe, Tshipulupulu tshitoke Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Carvings, Factory flooring, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Handles, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Shade rollers, Shafts/Handles, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Utility poles, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Status unknown in many of its growth areas Rare in parts of its natural range Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species is secure within its natural habitat in most areas in its range including Liberia, but it is officially classified as Rare in Ivory Coast. Its status in the wild in Angola, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Zaire is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information Distribution Overview The growth range of the species extends from Sierra Leone on the west coast of Africa to the Congo region. It is usually found in the rain forest as a dominant species, and in transition zones. Heartwood Color Brown Black Purple Red Purple Pale brown Pale red to pink Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Purplish streaks Purple - brown Sapwood Color White Well defined White to yellow Yellow Sapwood is wide Grain Straight Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Texture Medium Fine Fine Generally fine Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Durable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood has high resistance to decay Odor No distinctive taste Freshly cut wood has strong unpleasant odor Toxicity Some toxic effects Drying Defects Checking Distortion Moderate surface checking Severe surface checking Severe end splitting Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Difficult Requires carefully controlled drying to prevent degrade Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good High tendency to split Oily streaks are present Blunting Effect High to severe Moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Good results with ordinary tools Easy Carving Fairly good response to preservative treatment Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Timber saws cleanly but has a tendency to spring and split Gluing Easy to glue Good gluing characteristics Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mortise Finishes well Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good moulding properties Easy to mould Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Nailing Possible if prebored Nails hold poorly Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Variable qualities Good response Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Routing characteristics are good Sanding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good sanding finish Screwing Possible if prebored Poor screwing properties Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for slicing Easy to cut Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Satisfactory results Fairly good response to preservative treatment Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = very high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Very heavy Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Hardness (side grain) = hard Density = very high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 17241 26208 psi Density 57 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2784 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 8243 12159 psi Shearing Strength 3185 psi Stiffness 2167 2481 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.78 Weight 56 46 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1212 1842 kg/cm2 Density 913 kg/m3 Hardness 1262 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 579 854 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 223 kg/cm2 Stiffness 152 174 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.78 Weight 897 737 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Dudek, S.,1981,Lesser Known Liberian Timber Species,German Agency for Technical Cooperation Germany Fouarge, J.,1970,Essais Physiques,Mecaniques et de Durabilite de Bois de la Republique,Democratique du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.76 Ghana - Timber Marketing Board,1969,Ghana Hardwoods,Timber Marketing Board Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5 Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23 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 Voorhoeve, A.G.,1965,Liberian High Forest Trees,Centre for Agric. Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen