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Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Scientific Name Pentadesma butyracea Trade Name Abotoasebie Family Name Guttiferae Synonyms Pentadesma grandifolia, Pentadesma kerstingii, Pentadesma leucantha, Pentadesma nigritiana Common Names Abotoasebie, Agba, Aghe, Agyiapa, Akanti, Asuaindokun, Black mango tree, Bromabina, Bromabine, Butter tree, Candle butter tree, Candle tree, Chewstick, Ebot, Ehukei, Ehurike, Ekuso, Esoedokuno, Igbofia, Ijeni udegbu, Iroro, Izeni, Izeni eze, Ka-yoth, Kampampipampi, Kandika, Kiasose, Kiasoso, Kisidwe, Koma, Koma mufike, Komdi, Krinda, Lami, Lon, Lorokiere, Mbeke-wa, Mdayen, Mukomo, Njolei, Okarora, Oro, Orogbo, Orugbo erin, Ossa, Ossel, Ossol, Otelimo, Oze, Pagya, Pegya, Peigya, Pija, Pissaleboko, Seowe, Soe-kone, Soinankaw, Sokai, Solei, Suankyi, Suen, Sunkyi, Tallow tree, Tiakukebia, Udegbi, Udia ebiong, Waye, Waye-kpay, Weh-ti, Wotera Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Oars, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Pale brown Dark brown Red Pale red to pink Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown White to yellow Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Even Closed Straight Wavy Wavy Straight Figure shows rays Texture Medium Fine Coarse Coarse Fine Luster Medium Low Slightly lustrous Dull Natural Durability Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Perishable Non durable Moderately durable Light-Induced Color Change None Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Slight end splitting No twisting or warping Moderate twist/warp Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Bark width is 0-5 mm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Poor results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = very high Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Hardness (side grain) = very hard Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 15792 23275 psi Density 52 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2085 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 8154 11402 psi Stiffness 2167 2494 1000 psi Weight 51 45 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1110 1636 kg/cm2 Density 833 kg/m3 Hardness 945 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 573 801 kg/cm2 Stiffness 152 175 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 817 721 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % 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 Brenan, J.P.M., Greenway, P.J.,1949,Check-lists of the Forest Trees and Shrubs of the British Empire,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford No.5 Tanganyika Territories Part 2 Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun 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 Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Kunkel, G.,1965,The Trees of Liberia,German Forestry Mission to Liberia Report,No.3 Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T 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 Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons 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