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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. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Fagara leprieurii Trade Name Ata Family Name Rutaceae Synonyms Xanthoxylum niten, Zanthoxylum leprieurii, Fagara angolensis Common Names Ata, Atako, Atufio, Bgu-aye, Ekoune, Fasa kuwari, Fasakorihi, Fuwi, Gbu-aye, Hendje, Hengue, Kanton, Korokumo, Mbon, Munyenye, Ntalyerungu, Okuo, Pfui, Su-urului, Ughanghan, Ujo Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Canoes, Light construction, Musical instruments: percussion, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products Environmental Profile Vulnerable Heartwood Color Red Brown Yellow Purple Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Dark brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown White to yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Grain Even Interlocked Straight Straight Interlocked Texture Fine Even or uniform Medium to coarse Medium Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Very durable Durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Non durable Perishable Drying Defects Splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Tree Identification Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is greater than 70 m Tree height is 60-70 m Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little 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 Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results 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 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7711 12078 psi Density 43 lbs/ft3 Hardness 657 lbs Stiffness 1358 1568 1000 psi Weight 42 34 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 542 849 kg/cm2 Density 689 kg/m3 Hardness 298 kg Stiffness 95 110 1000 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda 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 Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda 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