Search for

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 Kiln Drying Rate 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 Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Trema sp. Trade Name Mbessi Family Name Ulmaceae Common Names Mbessi, Menarong, Mengkirai Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Comoros Common Uses Balusters, Baskets, Bedroom suites, Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Casks, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Particleboard, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The genus Trema consists of about 20 species, which are widely distributed in the tropical regions of the world. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Orange White Purple Pink Green/grey White to cream Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Fine Medium Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Luster Medium Low Wood surfaces are reported to have a natural sheen Natural Durability Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Durable Resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to termite attack Susceptible to attack by pinhole borers Heartwood has very low resistance to decay It is recommended that freshly cut stock be dip-treated immediately after sawing to prevent blue stain Odor Has an odor Toxicity Some toxic effects Drying Defects Checking Distortion Uneven Moisture Content Discoloration Ring Shakes Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Very good seasoning properties Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 60-70 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is greater than 70 m Certified Source Certified Source Comments Species in the genus are more valuable in their role of soil conservation and reclamation than as a source for timber Blunting Effect Little Medium dulling effect on cutting edges Boring Very good to excellent results Fairly easy to very easy Easy Boring operations are rather easy with ordinary machine tools Carving Good results Cutting Resistance Fairly easy to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Slight to moderate blunting effect on cutters Mortising operations are fairly easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Works fairly well with machine tools Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Special attention required The timber is described as very soft and generally planes to yield a smooth surface. Material with irregular grain requires a reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees to prevent tearing Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine The timber is described as very soft Routing & Recessing Routing is easy Good routing qualities Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory sanding properties Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Veneering Qualities Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium It is closer in strength to Mahogany than either Teak or White oak, which have higher bending strength Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6174 9555 psi Maximum Crushing Strength 3087 5684 psi Shearing Strength 1470 psi Stiffness 1127 1294 1000 psi Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 434 671 kg/cm2 Maximum Crushing Strength 217 399 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 103 kg/cm2 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 Desch, H. E. 1954. Manual of Malayan Timbers - Volume II. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaysia Publishing House Ltd., Singapore. Schneider, E.E. 1916. Commercial Woods of the Philippines: Their Preparation and Uses. Bulletin No. 14. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Forestry, Manila, Philippines.