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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. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Light-Induced Color Change Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Blighia sapida Trade Name Abale Family Name Sapindaceae Common Names Even Interlocked Straight Figure Weak (figure) Abale, Abikotor, Adja, Adza, Adzo, Akaa, Akee apple, Aki, Akye, Akye-fufu, Akyea, Alale, Ankye, Ankye-fufuo, Atsa, Atsia, Awai, Ayigbe atia, Baza, Chira, Feso, Finzan, Guruguru, Gwanje-kusa, Hatei, Ila, Ilipa, Ishin, Ishin-oka, Islii, Jokomi, Kaka, Kake Kiidatso Ndamba Ntokwa Ntokwaw Okpu Okwocha Otusi Pehega Peso Sago Savory akee apple Sugo Takwadua Ukpe Ukpe agbana Ukpe rerhen Ukpi nufwa Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo Common Uses Boxes and crates, Carvings, Chairs, Charcoal, Furniture, Light construction, Turnery Heartwood Color Brown Black Yellow Purple Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Red Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grain Figure Straight Stripe (figure) Wavy Even Distinct (figure) Other (figure) Closed Texture Fine Medium to coarse Fine Luster Medium Natural Durability Very durable Durable Moderately durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Drying Defects Checking Distortion Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to nail Planing Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Screwing Pre-boring recommended Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 55 lbs/ft3 Weight 54 43 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 881 kg/m3 References Boas, I.H.,1947,The Commercial Timbers of Australia - Their Properties and Uses,Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Melbourne Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Swabey, C.,1941,The Principal Timbers of Jamaica,Department of Science and Agriculture Jamaica Bulletin No.29 Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London