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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Certified Source
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Vitex doniana

Trade Name
Black plum

Family Name
Verbenaceae

Synonyms
Vitex cienkowski, Vitex cuneata


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Black plum, Ewelo, Heue, Kalembe, Kurnyuk, Kutufingo, Ledo, Lubei, Meru oak, Mfudu, Mfuru, Mgwobe, Mkhulu, Mkunungu, Muholu, Muhomozi, Munyamazi, Mutahuru, Omufuto, Owelo, Oyalo, Oyelo, Vitex

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Kenya, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Veneer

Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Pink
Purple
White to cream
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
Greenish to greyish


Sapwood Color
White
Yellow
Red
Color not distinct from heartwood
White to yellow


Grain
Wavy
Straight
Interlocked
Closed
Even
Figure
Weak (figure)

Wavy
Straight
Interlocked
Weak figure


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Medium to coarse
Fine
Medium
Coarse


Luster
Medium
High


Natural Durability
Non-resistant to termites
Durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-durable
Moderately durable
Perishable
Moderately durable
Perishable
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi


Odor
Has an odor


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Toxicity
Dermatitic effects


Kiln Schedules
UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid
Drying (speed) is fast


Drying Defects
Distortion
Collapse
Checking
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Moderate collapse and honeycombing
No surface checking
No end splitting should be expected
Moderate cupping
Severe twisting/warping
Severe cupping


Ease of Drying
Slowly
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Thick Stock Requires Care
Moderately Difficult to Difficult


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is fluted


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Bole length is 10-20 m
Bole length is 30-40 m
Sapwood width is 10-15 cm
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bark width is 25-30 mm
Tree height is 40-50 m


Certified Source
Certified Source


Blunting Effect
Little
Moderate


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Fair to good results


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Finishes well
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good finishing results
Easy to mould


Movement in Service
Small
Stable


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Holds satisfactorily
Easy to nail


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Planes to a satisfactory finish
Easy to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable sapwood
Permeable heartwood
Heartwood is moderately resistant
Sapwood is moderately resistant


Resistance to Splitting
Good
Satisfactory


Response to Hand Tools
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to Work
Responds Readily
Easy to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Routing yields good results


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Poor results


Veneering Qualities
Easy to cut
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Suitable for peeling


Steam Bending
Poor to Very Poor Results


Painting
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Poor results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Bending strength (MOR) = very low
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength43106606psi
Density37lbs/ft3
Hardness995lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength21393916psi
Shearing Strength1052psi
Stiffness101711991000 psi
Work to Maximum Load710inch-lbs/in3
Weight3628lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength303464kg/cm2
Density592kg/m3
Hardness451kg
Maximum Crushing Strength150275kg/cm2
Shearing Strength73kg/cm2
Stiffness71841000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.490.70cm-kg/cm3
Weight576448kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%

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.

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

France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France

Gotz, E.,1983,Timber trees of the Gambia,Stiftung Walderhaltung in Afrika and Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Forst-,und Holzwirtschaft

Palgrave, K.C.,1977,Trees of Southern Africa,Cape Town South Africa

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,1966,Timbers of Tanganyika - Vitex doniana,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi - Timbers of,Tanganyika









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