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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 Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Swartzia fistuloides

Trade Name
Dina

Family Name
Caesalpiniaceae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Akite, Asomanini, Awong, Bannia, Boto, Dina, Gandoe, Icoje, Kiela, Kiela kusu, Kisasamba, Kusu, Mututy, N'guessa, Naranjillo, Ndina, Nsakala, Oken, Orura barrialera, Pao rosa, Parakusan, Pau ferro, Pau rosa, Sambo, Sambo-sambo, Sambu, Sassambo, Wamara

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Togo, Zaire

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Musical instruments, Office furniture, Organ pipes, Piano keys, Pianos , Plain veneer, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Sounding boards, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tables , Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Violin bows, Violin, Wardrobes, Woodwork , Xylophones

Environmental Profile
Unknown status in natural growth range due to inadequate inofrmation
Rare in parts of its natural range
Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions.
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center

This species is relatively secure within its range in most areas including Cameroon and Congo, but it is officially classified as Rare in Ivory Coast. Its current environmental status in other areas within its growth range is unknown because of insufficient information. These areas are Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Zaire

Distribution Overview
The genus Swartzia is composed of about 135 species, all of which occur in tropical America, except for two which occur in Africa. S. fistuloides occurs in small clusters in the dense rainforests from the Ivory Coast to Gabon and the Congo region.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
White
Red
Grey
Dark brown
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale red to pink
Yellow
Reddish brown
Red-Brown bands
Red
Pink


Sapwood Color
Brown
Yellow
White
White to yellow
Well defined
White/Pale brown
Sapwood can be very thick
Different than heartwood


Grain
Wavy
Interlocked
Closed
Figure
Stripe (figure)

Wavy
Interlocked
Wavy to interlocked
Striped figure


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Coarse
Medium to very coarse
Fine


Luster
High
Medium


Natural Durability
Perishable
Non-durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Very durable
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Well suited for exterior applications
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Heartwood resistant to decay
Good weathering properties
Durable


Odor
No specific smell or taste


Silica Content
High
Siliceous


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed


Drying Defects
Distortion
Discoloration
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting
Shakes may become extended
Moderate surface checking
End-checking is moderate


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Dries slowly with severe checking


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Bole/stem form is misshapen


Tree Size
Bole length is 20-30 m


Product Sources
The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced in limited quantities and exported in small volumes.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Moderate
Interlocked slightly to moderately
Blunting effect on machining is moderate


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Fair to good results
Wood tends to char during boring


Carving
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Generally good results


Cutting Resistance
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
May overheat saws rapidly
Cutting resistance with dry wood is moderate
Blades have short life and tend to vibrate


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Easy to glue
Good gluing characteristics


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Slight to moderate blunting effect on cutters
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good finishing results
Easy to mould


Nailing
Possible if prebored


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory planing qualities
May be occasional pick up of grain
Easy to plane
Difficult to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable heartwood
Permeable sapwood
Heartwood is highly resistant
Highly resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to machine
Poor response
Moderate working qualities


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Routing characteristics are generally good


Sanding
Easy to sand


Screwing
Possible if prebored


Turning
Poor to Very Poor Results
Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges
Fairly good response to preservative treatment
Easy to turn


Veneering Qualities
Bolt preparation requires steaming


Polishing
Satisfactory results
Good results


Strength Properties
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Bending strength (MOR) = very high
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Max. crushing strength = very high
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft.
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high
Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Very heavy
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Hardness (side grain) = very hard
Density = very high
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1717524736psi
Density57lbs/ft3
Hardness2940lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength1003513389psi
Shearing Strength3185psi
Stiffness216725371000 psi
Specific Gravity0.8
Weight5858lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
Volumetric Shrinkage10%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength12071739kg/cm2
Density913kg/m3
Hardness1333kg
Maximum Crushing Strength705941kg/cm2
Shearing Strength223kg/cm2
Stiffness1521781000 kg/cm2
Specific Gravity0.8
Weight929929kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage6%

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.

Covington, S.A.,1972,The Strength Properties of Native Timbers used by the Mining Industry in,Zambia,Mining Timbers Project 8:3:3 Report, no.1

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood B. Wood Species from S. American Tropical,Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Freitas, M.C.P.G. de,1961,Madeiras de Angola Series 1,Reprint from Garcia de Orta Lisbon,9(4,pp699-711

Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data

Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London

ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France.

Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan

Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos

Monterio, R.R., Pimenta de Franca, O.F.,1965,Tres Especies Florestais de Angola,Bol. Inst. Invest. Cientifica de Angola Reprint (Luanda, 2(2,pp209-18

Saint-Aubin, G. de,1963,La Foret du Gabon,CTFT Publ., No.21

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

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Plants Programme, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.









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