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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 Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Macaranga conglomerata Trade Name Macaranga Family Name Euphorbiaceae Common Names Macaranga, Mkumba, Muhaa Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Tanzania Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Furniture, Light construction, Matches, Musical instruments, Plywood corestock, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Toys, Vats Heartwood Color Brown Red Green/grey Yellow White Purple Orange Pale brown Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White Same as heartwood Grain Closed Figure Wavy Growth rings (figure) Wavy Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Medium Fine Coarse Medium Luster Medium Natural Durability Durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Non-durable Perishable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight spring/bow Slight end splitting No surface checking No end splitting Moderate twist/warp Moderate spring/bow Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Rapidly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Bark width is 5-10 mm Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Nailing Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Moderately easy to veneer Polishing Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Density 28 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 2731 4743 psi Shearing Strength 1334 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Weight 27 24 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Density 448 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 192 333 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 93 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 432 384 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % 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 Bryce, J. and Kitambi, G.,1960,The Air-drying Properties of some Tanganyika Timbers Technical Note No 23,Tanganyika Forest Department Utilisation Division Technical Note Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. 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 Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14