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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 Carving Comments 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Brachylaena hutchinsii Trade Name Muhuhu Family Name Compositae Common Names Huhugwe, Kipugupugu, Mkalambaki, Mkarambaki, Mshenzi, Mubuubu, Muhugive, Muhugme, Muhugu, Muhugwe, Muhuhu, Mvumvo, Ol magogo, Watho, Wiatho Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda Common Uses Boxes and crates, Carvings, Domestic flooring, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sub-flooring, Turnery, Woodwork Environmental Profile Secure in many areas of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center It is either Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare in Uganda Distribution Overview Tropical east Africa. Common in the dry coastal forests of Tanzania and Kenya, but also recorded in Uganda. Heartwood Color Brown Pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Brown Pale brown Yellowish brown Dark yellowish brown with streaks upon exposure Sapwood Color Brown Pink Clearly differentiated from the heartwood White to yellow Grayish-white Different than heartwood Grain Straight Interlocked Wavy Closed Even Figure Rippled (figure) Texture Fine Fine and even Luster High Natural Growth Defects Mature stems are often hollow In-grown bark Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Moderately durable Very durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to decay Moderately resistant against termite and marine borer attack Moderately resistance against termite and marine borer attack in East Africa. Odor Spicy scent Odor exists in dried wood Odor detected during machining Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 UK=B UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 T2 - C2 (4/4) T2 - C1 (8/4) US Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight twist/warp No twisting or warping Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Thicker stock may check severely if dried too rapidly Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Thick Stock Requires Care Little degrade Variable results. Shrinkage Green to12% MC Radial and tangential shrinkage from 2-4% Controlled drying conditions will prevent rapid drying and yield best results. Kiln Drying Rate Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Large timber dimensions are rather difficult to obtain from the tree since the bole is usually of poor form. In-grown bark is also rather prevalent. Product Sources The ITTO reports that an occasional source for timber production in Ivory Coast, Gabon, Congo, Mozambique, and TanzaniaThe ITTO reports that a fairly important source of timber, and is exported in low quantities Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Generally weak in bending and stiffness, with high resistance to wear The timber is used in England for flooring in high-traffic areas in hotels and public building because of its attractive looks. India is reported to import small quantities of the wood to be used as a substitute for Sandalwood (Santalum album ) in cremation. Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on sawing is moderate The wood exerts moderate blunting effect on cutting tools because of high density and irregular grain Boring Fairly easy to very easy Difficult Moderately easy Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Proper saw needed to avoid overheating Gum from green material clogs saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Fair to Good Results Difficult to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mortise There is a tendency for hollow square chisels to char in mortising. Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to mould Good finishing results French head has been suggested as the most suitable moulding tool. Movement in Service Small Stable Reported to remain very stable under fluctuating humidity conditions Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to nail Pre-boring recommended Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to plane Planes well, to a good finish Requires reduced cutting angle Easy to plane A reduced cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended for quarter-sawn material. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is difficult Sanding Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Pre-boring recommended Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Good results Wood is brittle Good results Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Diifficult to veneer Steam Bending Moderate Poor Painting Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Satisfactory results Good results Clean surface Staining Stains well and uniformly Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Generally good Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Dnesity (dry wieght) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Max. crushing strength = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Heavy Hardness = high Density = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11914 16394 psi Density 58 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2277 lbs Impact Strength 26 22 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 7080 9768 psi Shearing Strength 3103 psi Stiffness 1361 1581 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 10 11 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.67 0.85 Weight 59 57 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 4 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 837 1152 kg/cm2 Density 929 kg/m3 Hardness 1032 kg Impact Strength 65 55 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 497 686 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 218 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 111 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.70 0.77 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.67 0.85 Weight 945 913 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35 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 Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World No.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Cronquist, A.,1957,Las Zygophyllaceas Venezolanas,Bull. Jard. Bot. Bruxelles,27(3,pp381-9 Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Fernando, X.M.,1959,Notes on Ceylon Timbers,Ceylon Forester,4(2,pp227-31 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1954,Hardwoods for Industrial Flooring,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet, No.48 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38 Fortin, Y., Poliquin, J.,1976,Natural Durability and Preservation of 100 Tropical African Woods,International Development Research Centre, Canada Gay, F.J., Et al,1955,Standard laboratory colonies of termites for evaluating the resistance of,timber, timber preservatives and other materials to termite attack.,C.S.I.R.O., Australia Bulletin,No.277 Grant, D.K.S.,1934,Some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Department HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France. Jane, F.W.,1954,The Structure of World Timbers - Loliondo and Muhuhu,Timber Technology,62(2184, pp493-5 Kline, M. 1981. Brachylaena hutchinsii - Muhuhu. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 67-68. Lamb, G.N.,1951,Foreign Woods Brachylaena hutchinsii,Wood and Wood Products,56(10,p42 Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50) Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. McCoy-Hill, M.,1954,Timbers of Tanganyika - Brachylaena hutchinsii and Pterocarpus angolensis,Timber Technology,62(2185, p559 McCoy-Hill, M.,1962,The Protection of Timber from Marine Borer Damage in East African,Waters,8th Brit. Commw. Forestry Conf. East Africa Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Oliver, A.C.,1974,Timber for Marine and Freshwater Construction,TRADA, London Pardy, A.A.,1955,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Erythophleum,africanum,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1851 Patterson, D.N.,1963,The strength of Kenya timbers, their derivation and application,Kenya Forestry Department Research Bulletin,No.23 Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London 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 - Timber Marketing Co. Ltd.,1978,Timber from Tanzania Tanzania Forest Department,1966,Flooring Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika Tanzania Forest Department,1966,Timbers of Tanganyika - Brachylaena hutchsii,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tanzania Forest Division,1967,The Weights and Shrinkage of some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sect. Technical Note,No.25 Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] Timber Information Assoc. Ltd.,1947,Notes on East African Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information, No.28 Uganda Forest Department,1954,Flooring Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.17 Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom. Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya