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Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding 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 Varnishing Scientific Name Bussea occidentalis Trade Name Asamantawa Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Peltophorum africanum Common Names Asamantawa, Atawa, Ateretere, Bingbe, Bonaminta, Boomoue, Dabugrohi, Dahn-kay, Helei, Hilei, Kotoprepre, Mamamarawa, Mamarawa, Muniele, Musambanyoka, Muteta, Muzeze, Mwikalankanga, Nali sekahi, Nomotcho, Pahkloh, Rhodesian black watte, Rhodesian wattle, Samanta, Samante, Silo, Takorowa, Umsehla Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boxes and crates, Carvings, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Light construction, Mine timbers, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color White Purple Red Brown Reddish brown Dark brown Brown Black Greenish to greyish Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Red Pale red to pink Sapwood Color White White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Paler than heartwood Different than heartwood Grain Figure Interlocked Closed Wavy Growth rings (figure) Other (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Wavy Striped figure Other figure Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Coarse Medium to coarse Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Moderately durable Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 10-20 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Nailing Possible if prebored Holds nails well Planing Difficult to plane Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Variable qualities Difficult to machine Easy to machine Sanding Difficult to sand Turning Easy to turn Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 12082 18683 psi Density 51 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2513 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6153 9058 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 1880 2171 1000 psi Weight 50 46 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 849 1313 kg/cm2 Density 817 kg/m3 Hardness 1139 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 432 636 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 132 152 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 801 737 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies Dudek, S.,1981,Lesser Known Liberian Timber Species,German Agency for Technical Cooperation Germany Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Pardy, A.A.,1952,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Peltophorum,africanum,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1665 Savill, P.S., Fox, J.E.D.,1967,Trees of Sierra Leone Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 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 Voorhoeve, A.G.,1965,Liberian High Forest Trees,Centre for Agric. Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen