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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 Certified Source Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Berlinia acuminata Trade Name Berlinia Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Abem, Berlinia, Ebiara, Ekpogi, Essaben, Essoule, Gborduorh, Kibibi, M'Possa, Melegba, wepa Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo Common Uses Beams, Bedroom suites, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Porch columns, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rough construction, Rustic furniture Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Questionable Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview West Africa into Zaire, from dense, high forests to savannah forests and even marshy areas. Heartwood Color White Brown Red Black Purple Reddish brown Pale red to pink Dark purplish brown Dark-Purplish-Brown irregular streaks or stripped veins are sometimes visible on quartered surfaces Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Often shows a pinkish tint Grain Even Figure Irregular Straight Interlocked Straight to interlocked Irregular or uneven grain occasionally Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Medium coarse to coarse Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Moderately durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles Very vulnerable to ambrosia beetle attack Moderately resistant to attack by termites Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers Odor No odor, generally. Kiln Schedules T6 - D2 (4/4) US T3 - D1 (8/4) US Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Discoloration Slight twist/warp Expect resin/gum exudation Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Moderately Difficult to Difficult Dries slowly with little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Certified Source Certified Source Substitutes Can be used a substitute for Oak (Quercus) Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on sawing is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Very good to excellent results Fair results Affected by interlocked and irregular grain Cutting Resistance Requires tungsten tipped cutters Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Carefully Controlled Conditions Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good properties Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult French head has been recommended for best moulding results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Moderate movement after manufacture Fair stability Nailing Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Pre-boring recommended Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Requires reduced cutting angle Planing requires a reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees because of interlocked or irregular grain Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Sanding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Interlocked grain may cause some grain tearing Easy to sand Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fair to Good Results Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Suitable for peeling No drying degrade Can be converted into highy decorative veneers for paneling and marquety Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fair/moderate Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Staining properties are good Strength Properties Weight = heavy Resists denting and marring Hardness = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9776 14183 psi Density 44 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1333 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4638 7380 psi Stiffness 1384 1593 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.53 0.64 Weight 52 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 687 997 kg/cm2 Density 705 kg/m3 Hardness 604 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 326 518 kg/cm2 Stiffness 97 112 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.53 0.64 Weight 833 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % 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. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.