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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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Casearia engleri Trade Name Mukunguru Family Name Flacourtiaceae Common Names Mukunguru, Musandi Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Kenya, Uganda Common Uses Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Furniture, Joinery, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Turnery Heartwood Color Brown Pink White to cream Sapwood Color Red Brown Green/Grey White White to yellow Same as heartwood Grain Straight Even Straight Texture Coarse Medium Fine Natural Durability Non-resistant to pinhole borers Non-resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack The sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Odor Has an odor Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Splitting Internal Honeycombing Possible Checking Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Moderate to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Mortising Fair to Good Results Moderately easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding ease is moderate Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Holds nails well Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Sanding Fair to Good Results Screwing Poor to Very Poor Results Screwing yields good results Turning Fair to Good Results Turns with moderate ease Polishing Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Density 36 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1221 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Weight 35 28 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Density 576 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 85 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 560 448 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % 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 Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya