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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 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 Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Terminalia superba Trade Name Limba Family Name Combretaceae Common Names Afa, Afara, Afia afia, Afodonko, Afraa, Aghan, Akam, Akom, An rin, Bale, Baya, Bese, Blie, Bokone, Chene limbo, Chene-limbo, Congo walnut, Dark limba, Dark noir, Djombe, Edo, Egean, Egoin nufua, Egonni, Egoyin, Eji, End, Faraen, Frake, Fram, Frameri, Framo, Frane, Frango, Frany, Gbararada, Ka-ren, Kegblale, Kojaagei, Kojagei, Kom, Kone, Kongo, Korina, Kosina, Kumkunbe, Landi, Light limba, Limba, Limba clair, Limba noir, Limbo, Moukonia, Mukonja, N'dimba, N'kom, N'limba, Noyer, Noyer du Mayombe, Noyer limbo, Offram, Ofram, Ojiloko, Owebala, Pe, Shingle wood, Tra, Unwonrom, Weiss, White afara, White limba, Yellow pine Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Coffins, Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Paneling , Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Shingles, Tables, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Rare Abundant/Secure Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species is relatively secure, with little or no threat to its population within its natural growth range Distribution Overview Widely distributed from Guinea to Angola and Zaire. It grows in the rain and savannah forests, and is a good plantation species in West Africa. Heartwood Color Yellow Brown Green/grey Orange White Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish White to cream Brown Grey brown Limba sometimes has black, irregular streaks which give the wood an attractive appearance Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Same as heartwood Not clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Closed Even Growth rings (figure) Irregular Straight Interlocked Distinct figure Distinct and very fine figure Straight to interlocked May be straight, irregular, or wavy Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Coarse Medium Coarse Medium Moderately coarse Medium coarse to coarse Fine Luster Medium High Lustrous Pronounced High Dull Wood surface has a high, satiny luster. Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Perishable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Susceptible to marine borer attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Heartwood has very low resistance to decay It is readily attacked by termites, ambrosia beetles, and powder-post beetles. Felled trees require special preventive care to protect the heartwood against deterioration. Odor No specific taste Mild odor Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Dermatitic effects Respiratory effects Wood splinters are reported to cause inflammation of the skin in some individuals. Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=J US=T10D5S/T8D4S Fr=4 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid T10 - D5s (4/4); T8 - D4s (8/4) US Schedule J (4/4) United Kingdom Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Checking Discoloration Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight end splitting No surface checking Severe end splitting No twisting or warping No end splitting Shakes and splits are common during air-seasoning. Kiln-drying is often accompanied by minimal checking and warping. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Easy Dries rapidly and well with little degrade under controlled conditions Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bark width is 20-25 mm Bark width is 25-30 mm Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Product Sources Supplies are plentiful and the material is available in the form of veneers and lumber. Price is in the moderate range. Substitutes Ako (Antiaris africana and A. welwitschii), African pterygota (Pterygota bequaert and P. macrocarpa) and Brown terminalia (Terminalia brassii) are substitutes for some end uses. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on machining is slight Slight dulling effect on cutting tools Boring Very good to excellent results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Good finishing results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Small Stable Stable when seasoned Nailing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Tends to split during nailing Possible if prebored Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Yields clean surfaces Responds well to ordinary machine tools in all operations Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a poor finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is resistant Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant to preservative treatment. Preservative penetration and retention in the sapwood are adequate. Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Routing is easy Routing yields good results Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to sand Good sanding finish Difficult to sand Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results