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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 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 Schedules Luster Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Varnishing Scientific Name Brachystegia laurentii Trade Name Bomanga Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Achi, Akolodo, Bomanga, Ekop evene, Ekop lele, Meblo, Mendou, Naga, Ngu, Nzang, Okwen, Yegna 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, Zaire Common Uses Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Rustic furniture, Sub-flooring, Tables , Utility furniture, Veneer Environmental Profile Very little threat to its natural environment. Secure in many areas of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview West Africa. Common in the wetter high forests of Nigeria. Heartwood Color Yellow Red Orange Yellowish brown Pale fawn Light brown Dark brown Copper brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Yellowish Whitish Pale yellowish brown Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Even Figure Straight Roey (figure) Occasionally straight Moderately to severely interlocked, producing a roey figure Texture Medium coarse to coarse Luster Medium High Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Wind shakes in large trees Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Very low natural resistance to decay fungi Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules T6 - D2 (4/4) US T3 - D1 (8/4) US Schedule E (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Severe surface checking Expect resin/gum exudation Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Gum exudation may occur if the wood is dried too rapidly Ease of Drying Shrinkage Green to12% MC Radial and tangential shrinkage from 2-4% Dries slowly with high tendency to degrade Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Comments Abnormal Wood Tissue Some authorities identify this species and B. zenkeri as the same, i.e., B. laurentii = B. zenkeri . Tension wood may be present. Material containing tension wood is highly prone to distortion during drying. Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing is mild Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Gluing Very good properties Moulding Oulding properties are good Movement in Service Fair stability in seasoned wood Nailing Nails well without pre-boring Holds nails well Dry timber is hard to nail Planing Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately to extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Sanding Good sanding qualities Steam Bending Good Painting Good results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Smooth finish Staining Stains well and easily Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Resists denting and marring Max. crushing strength = high Hardness = medium Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10613 13103 psi Density 38 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1401 lbs Impact Strength 35 22 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5381 6821 psi Shearing Strength 2607 psi Stiffness 1317 2185 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 14 14 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.57 Weight 51 36 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 746 921 kg/cm2 Density 608 kg/m3 Hardness 635 kg Impact Strength 88 55 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 378 479 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 183 kg/cm2 Stiffness 92 153 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.98 0.98 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.57 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. 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. Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. 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.