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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance 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 References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Syzygium cordatum Trade Name Coast mdoni Family Name Myrtaceae Synonyms Syzygium cordifolium, Eugenia cordatia Common Names Coast mdoni, Curre, Gihlu, Imiswi, Kalunginsanvu, Kalunginsavu, Mecurre, Mosombo, Muchlo, Muchua, Mudoni, Muhlwa, Muhumbe, Muisu, Mukungu, Mukute, Muthwa, Mutiquiria, Mutwa, Mutxulu, Muwototo, Muzamba, Ohunyabariko, Omukondo, Timuchlo, Tucura, Umdoni, Umshui, Umswi, Vm-cozi, Water berry, Waterbessie, Waterboom, Waterhout, Watertree, Waterwood Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe Common Uses Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mine timbers, Paneling, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Heartwood Color Brown Green/grey Red Yellow Black Purple Orange Greenish to greyish Red Pale red to pink Sapwood Color White Yellow Pink Grain Straight Even Interlocked Figure Weak (figure) Straight Weak figure Interlocked Texture Fine Medium Resinous and oily Fine Medium Fine to medium Luster Low Medium Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Durable Odor Has an odor Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1 Drying Defects Distortion Checking Splitting Moderate end spitting Severe end splitting Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Variable results. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Very slow Drying rate is slow Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Blunting Effect Little Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Easy to nail Possible if prebored Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Responds Poorly Easy to machine Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to sand Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turning Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Steam Bending Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Painting Surface Preparation Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6911 10833 psi Density 42 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 2419 psi Stiffness 1349 1564 1000 psi Weight 41 33 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 485 761 kg/cm2 Density 673 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 170 kg/cm2 Stiffness 94 109 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 657 528 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Ballenden, S.S.T.C.,1938,Um'doni or Waterwood (Syzygium cordata,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No.1,pp60-61 [South,African Forestry Journal] Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] Banks, C.H.,1959,Notes on the Timber of Syzygium cordatum,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No.33,pp49-52,[South,African Forestry Journal] 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 Brenan, J.P.M., Greenway, P.J.,1949,Check-lists of the Forest Trees and Shrubs of the British Empire,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford No.5 Tanganyika Territories Part 2 Cardoso, J.G.A.,1961,Madeiras de Mocambique 7 - Syzygium cordatum,Serv.de Ag. Mocambique,Publ. Serie A, No.11 Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Sim, T.R.,1921,Native Trees of South Africa,Union of South Africa Department of Mines and Industries Memoir No.3 Tanzania Forest Division,1967,The Weights and Shrinkage of some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sect. Technical Note,No.25 White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London