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Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Syzygium guineense Trade Name Eramori Family Name Myrtaceae Synonyms Syzygium owariense, Eugenia guineensis, Eugenia owariensis Common Names Eramori, Kalunginsanvu, Kano, Karumaa, Kokissa, Lamulii, Lematwet, Lemayua, Masai sambarau, Msambarao, Mshiui, Mshiwi, Muieri, Mukoi, Mukui, Mukute, Mureni, Muriru, Muziahi, Mzauri, Ol-eragai, Ol-lamati, Ol-lameli, Reberwo, Sinti, Water tree, Waterberry, Waterpeer, Woodland waterberry Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Concrete formwork, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Railroad ties, Toys, Turnery, Veneer Heartwood Color Yellow Brown White Red Orange Pale red to pink Brown Pale brown Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White Paler than heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Medium Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Medium Natural Durability Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Non durable Moderately durable Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Durable Light-Induced Color Change Darker Lighter Kiln Schedules UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1 Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Moderate twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate end spitting Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Large Nailing Holds nails well Possible if prebored Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes to a satisfactory finish Easy to plane Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is highly resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Poor results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10376 16163 psi Density 45 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3472 5777 psi Shearing Strength 1883 psi Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Weight 44 35 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 729 1136 kg/cm2 Density 721 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 244 406 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 132 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 705 560 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % 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 Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Palgrave, K.C.,1977,Trees of Southern Africa,Cape Town South Africa Pardy, A.A.,1951,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs in Southern Rhodesia - Syzygium,guineense,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S.Rhodesia Bulletin No. 1637 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T 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 Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tanzania Forestry Department,1963,Timbers of Tanganyika - Syzygium guineense,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi - Timbers of,Tanganyika Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya