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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. Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Drying Defects Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Oldfieldia africana Trade Name African oak Family Name Euphorbiaceae Common Names African oak, African teak, Angouran, Dantoue, Esson, Esson fu, Esui, Etu, Etui, Fou, Fu, Ka-tosa, Kpaolai, Lib-kpaolai, Mbaimba, Pau-lai, Real African oak, Rla, Saintue, Saye, Tanalia, Tortorza, Turtosa, Vesenbata Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bearings & bushings, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Carvings, Decks, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Paneling, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Yellow Red Brown Orange Reddish brown Brown Purple Red Brown, red, dark reddish brown with nearly black stripes after prolonged exposure Sapwood Color Different than heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Interlocked Closed Even Straight Wavy Texture Fine Fine to medium Medium Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Resistant to attack from marine borers Durable Drying Defects Slight surface checking Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to nail Planing Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Difficult to machine Turning Easy to turn Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Staining Reacts with Iron to discolour wood Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Radial = small Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13576 20956 psi Density 61 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1987 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Stiffness 2578 3011 1000 psi Weight 60 48 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 954 1473 kg/cm2 Density 977 kg/m3 Hardness 901 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Stiffness 181 211 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 961 769 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % 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 Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Dudek, S.,1981,Lesser Known Liberian Timber Species,German Agency for Technical Cooperation Germany France - Comite Nacional des Bois Coloniaux,1931,Etude Physique et Mecanique des Bois Coloniaux,Assoc. Colonies-Sciences & Comite National des Bios Coloniaux, Paris,,France Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Meniaud, J., Bretonnet, F.,1926,Les Bois Coloniaux d'Afrique dans l'Industrie,Publ. de l'Agence Gen. des Colonies Savill, P.S., Fox, J.E.D.,1967,Trees of Sierra Leone 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 Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London Voorhoeve, A.G.,1965,Liberian High Forest Trees,Centre for Agric. Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen