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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 Light-Induced Color Change Luster Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Burkea africana Trade Name Burkea Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Aradibo, Atakpla, Avadibo, Bak'in, Bomni, Burkea, Bwamiri, Bwanzalenga, Cabilangan, Dagbongum, Esseresu opirimu, Gbagbongum, K'iryar dutse, Kapanga, Karya gatari, Kinkili, Kinkiri, Kirintanga, Kokobi, Kolo, Kombo, Kur'di, Kuru, Langengu, M'carati, Maccarati, Mak'arfo, Makarati, Make, Malawi, Mgando, Mkarati, Monoodo, Msangala, Mucarala, Mucarati, Mukalati, Mukarati, Musheshe, Mutundungu, Namijin k'irya, Pinimo, Pirimo, Pirimu, Sandering, Siri, Tachale, Tschesili, Tschingli, Umnondo, Wild seringa, Wilde sering, Wildesering Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Charcoal, Construction, Crossties, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Very little threat to its natural environment. Status unknown in many of its growth areas Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Widely distributed in dry savanna forests from Nigeria southward to Transvaal. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Dark brown Dark brown Turn reddish brown upon exposure Greyish brown Sapwood Color Pinkish White to yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Closed Wavy Stripe (figure) Interlocked Distinct and fine figure Distinct figure Wavy Striped figure Texture Medium Fine Fine to medium Coarse Luster Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Center is often decayed Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Untreated wood in contact with ground is very resistant to decay Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to termite attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Perishable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 T2 - C2 (4/4) Us Schedule B (4/4) United Kingdom Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Checking Slight end splitting Slight problem with splitting and distortion Ease of Drying Easy Variable results. Shrinkage Green to12% MC Radial and tangential shrinkage from 1-2% Dries slowly with moderate ease Kiln Drying Rate Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Gluing Easy to glue Glues well Moulding Poor moulding results Movement in Service Small Holds shape after seasoning Good stability after seasoning Nailing Difficult to nail Pre-boring is recommended to avoid splitting Possible if prebored Planing Difficult to plane Planes to a poor finish Torn grain is common Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Easy to machine Sanding Good sanding finish Screwing Pre-boring suggested to avoid splitting Turning Good results Easy to turn Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Staining Staining properties are good Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = medium Dnesity (dry wieght) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high Very heavy Toughness-Hammer drop (impact Strength) = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = very small Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = very hard Hardness (side grain) = soft Density = high Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10836 16513 psi Density 53 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1813 lbs Impact Strength 54 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5408 8171 psi Shearing Strength 2475 psi Stiffness 1264 1472 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.64 Weight 52 44 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 761 1161 kg/cm2 Density 849 kg/m3 Hardness 822 kg Impact Strength 137 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 380 574 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 174 kg/cm2 Stiffness 88 103 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.64 Weight 833 705 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Babajide, Lucas E., Shegun, Ajayi D.,1966,Stiffness and specific gravity related to other mechanical properties for,seven tropical timbers.,Nigeria Federal Department Forest Research, Ibadan, Report No.10 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., Kromhout, C.P.,1966,Notes on the Timber of Burkea africana Hook with Particular Reference to,Material from S.W.Africa,Bosbou in Suid-Afrika,No.7, pp17-29 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 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.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. 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 Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Ferreirinha, M.P.,1955,Catalogo des Madeiras de Mocambique (pt 1,Min. do Ultramar Junta Invest. do Ultranar Memorias Serie Botanica, 2 Fortin, Y., Poliquin, J.,1976,Natural Durability and Preservation of 100 Tropical African Woods,International Development Research Centre, Canada 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. 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. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Organisation for European Economic Co-operation,1951,African Tropical Timber (Nomenclature, Description,OEEC Pardy, A.A.,1952,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Burkea africana,(Hook,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin No.1651 Scott, J.D.,1950,Some Nigerian Timbers,Nigerian Forestry Department Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Scott, M.H.,1950,Notes on the more Important African Timbers Imported into the Union with,Special Ref. to Port. E.A. Species,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No.19,pp18-62,[South,African Forestry Journal] Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36 Storrs, A.E.G.,1979,Know your Trees - Some of the Common Trees found in Zambia,Zambia Forestry Department, Ndola 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 Forest Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14 Tanzania Forest Department,1961,Timbers of Tanganyika - Brachystegia spiciformis,Tanzania Forest Dept. 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,Timbers of Tanganyika - Burkea africana,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom. White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London