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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 Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Mortising Moulding Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cassine crocea Trade Name Saffraan Family Name Celastraceae Common Names Saffraan, Saffron, Saffron-wood Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Madagascar, South Africa Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Carvings, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Millwork, Mine timbers, Plywood, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Brown Red Sapwood Color White Yellow Grain Even Closed Straight Wavy Wavy Straight Texture Fine Fine Natural Durability Moderately durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Durable Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planing Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Moderate working qualities Turning Good results Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling No drying degrade Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Satisfactory results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7178 11247 psi Density 47 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1775 psi Stiffness 1188 1383 1000 psi Weight 46 37 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 504 790 kg/cm2 Density 753 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 124 kg/cm2 Stiffness 83 97 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 737 592 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % 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 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] 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 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