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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 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 Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Brachystegia spiciformis Trade Name Mtundu Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Brachystegia randii Common Names Igonde, Igondi, Kaputu, Messassa, Miombo, Mkuti, Mputu, Mrihi, Mriti, Msasa, Mtondo, Mtondoro, Mtundu, Mtundu mweupe, Mubugu, Muhugu, Muhuhu, Mumanga, Mundu, Mupanda, Mupuhu, Muputu, Musasa, Musewe, Mutsatsa, Mutundoje, Mutuya, Mwekundu, Myombo, N'tnudu, Ndagula, Puti, Speciformis, Umutundu Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beams, Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Concrete formwork, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Flooring, Food containers, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Medicinal use, Millwork, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Sub-flooring, Tables, Tannin, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Savanna forests of East Africa, mostly Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique; reaching from the coastal belt to the highlands. Heartwood Color Red Yellow Orange Brown Purple Green/grey Reddish brown Pale brown Dark brown Brown Red Pale fawn Darkens upon exposure Sapwood Color Yellow White Pink White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Whitish Pinkish Grain Figure Interlocked Distinct (figure) Irregular Interlocked Distinct figure Irregular and interlocked, producing a ribbon figure Texture Fine Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Luster High Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Very little natural resistance Susceptible to termite attack Susceptible to attack by fungi Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Pinworm (ambrosia beetle) often present in the felled log Perishable Durable Odor No specific odor Toxicity Some toxic effects Non-toxic Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow T3 - C2 (4/4) T3 - C1 (8/4) US Schedule C (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Moderate surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate end spitting Slight twist/warp Severe end-splitting Tendency to split around knots Slight surface checking Slight spring/bow Slight collapse and honeycomb Severe twisting/warping Severe surface checking Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Difficult Shrinkage Green to12% MC Radial and tangential shrinkage from 2-4% Dries well under good controlled conditions Dries slowly 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 not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Blunting effect on sawing is moderate Blunting effect on machining is severe The wood has medium blunting effect on cutting tools because of its fairly high density and interlocked grain. Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Material with interlocked grain can be difficult. Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Finishes well Difficult to mortise Moulding Poor moulding results Difficult to mould Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Fair stability in seasoned wood Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Difficult to nail Possible if prebored Poor nailing properties Easy to nail Planing Difficult to plane Planes to a poor finish Requires reduced cutting angle Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Routing is difficult Finishes poorly Sanding Good sanding finish Good sanding qualities Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Easy to turn Difficult to turn Steam Bending Very poor Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Smooth finish Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (impact strength) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Very heavy Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness = very high Dnesity (dry wieght) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density = high Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9158 15946 psi Density 50 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1761 lbs Impact Strength 42 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 6628 9679 psi Shearing Strength 2250 psi Static Bending 7683 psi Stiffness 1624 1981 1000 psi Toughness 362 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 20 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.62 0.7 Weight 50 49 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 643 1121 kg/cm2 Density 801 kg/m3 Hardness 798 kg Impact Strength 106 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 466 680 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 158 kg/cm2 Static Bending 540 kg/cm2 Stiffness 114 139 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 417 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 1.40 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.62 0.7 Weight 801 785 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Ackerman, D.P., Krogh, P.M.D.,1961,Brachystegia Species for Railway Sleepers,Forestry in South Africa N0.1 July, pp47-49 Alan Schwartz. Rio Rivuma, Boston, MA. Personal Communication, 1993. Armstrong, F.H.,1960,The Strength Properties of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No.45 Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa. Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 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 Bryce, J. and Kitambi, G.,1960,The Air-d