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Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing 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 Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Ricinodendron heudolottii Trade Name African nut tree Family Name Euphorbiaceae Synonyms Ricinodendron africanum, Barrettia umbrosaisim, Jatropha heudolottii Common Names African nut tree, African oil nut tree, African wood, African wood oil nut, Anwamah, Anwarma, Asoma, Awema, Baluba, Bofeko, Cazengo, Corkwood, Dvovo, Ehan nsa-sana, Eho, Eke, Ekku, Engessang, Engwanle, Epi, Epui, Erimado, Erimodon, Erinmado, Esango, Esesang, Essanga, Essessang, Ewan, Ezan, Funfun puttuputtu, Gbolei, Haipi, Hobo hapi, Issanguila, Karro-tu, Kishongo, Kisongo, Kitililundu, Ko, Kpedi, Moigila, Mongongome, Mugongo, Mulela, Mungenge, Munguella, Musodo, Nbob, Ngwama, Njangsang, Nwvama, Okao koodo, Okengbo, Okhuen, Okkwen nebo, Okue, Okukduru, Okwe, Okwenseva, Olda, Omodon, Onwama, Ookwe, Otwetwereded, Owama, Poposi, Potopoto, Sain, Sanga sanga, Sosali, Tshilela, Wama, Wawankurmi, Webango, Wonjangasanga, Wonjasanga Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Artificial limbs, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Coffins, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture, Matches, Model airplanes, Musical instruments: percussion, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Sporting Goods, Toys Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Same as heartwood White to yellow Grain Straight Even Straight Texture Medium Coarse Luster Low Lustrous Dull Natural Durability Durable Perishable Non-durable Moderately durable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Perishable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Slowly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Finishes poorly Easy to mortise Moulding Satisfactory moulding results Easy to mould Nailing Easy to nail Holds nails well Planing Easy to plane Planes to a satisfactory finish Planes to a poor finish Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Excellent Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Difficult to turn Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Poor results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight)=less than 15 lbs/cu.ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 2509 3623 psi Density 17 lbs/ft3 Hardness 319 lbs Impact Strength 15 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 1196 2262 psi Shearing Strength 882 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Weight 17 14 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 176 254 kg/cm2 Density 272 kg/m3 Hardness 144 kg Impact Strength 38 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 84 159 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 272 224 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 Chalk, L.,1933,Twenty West African Timber Trees,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 2 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 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 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Forest Products Research Laboratory, Nigeria,1965,Nigerian Timbers for Matchmaking,Nigeria Fed. Department of Forest Research, Ibadan, Forest Products,Research Laboratory Report No.5 Fouarge, J., Gerard, G.,1964,Bois du Mayumbe,I.N.E.A.C. Belguim Fouarge, J.,1950,Appropriation de Bois Congolais aux Besoins de la Metropole,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.38 Fouarge, J.,1970,Essais Physiques,Mecaniques et de Durabilite de Bois de la Republique,Democratique du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.76 France - C.T.F.T.,1960,Essessang,C.T.F.T.,Information Technique,No.30 Ghana - Timber Marketing Board,1969,Ghana Hardwoods,Timber Marketing Board Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Keay, R.W.J., et al,1960,Nigerian Trees Vol.1,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kinloch, D., Miller, W.A.,1949,Gold Coast Timbers,Govt. Printer Gold Coast Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 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 Saint-Aubin, G. de,1963,La Foret du Gabon,CTFT Publ., No.21 Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23 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 Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons Uganda Forest Department,1969,The Shrinkage of Some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.47 Uganda Forest Department,1972,Ricinodendron heudolotii,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet, No. 49 Uganda Forestry Department,1954,Pilot tests of strength properties of some Ugandan grown timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber leaflet No. 46 United Kingdom - H.M.S.O.,1954,Report of the Matchwood Working Party,H.M.S.O. for the Board of Trade and Ministry of Materials Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London