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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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cassipourea verticillata Trade Name Muzaisi Family Name Rhizophoraceae Common Names Itswili, Messimbe, Muzaisi, Mzimbe, Onoinwood, Rhozima Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia Common Uses Balusters, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Fishnet floats, Floats, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders , Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Turnery Environmental Profile Vulnerable The environmental status of this species within its geographical range has not been officially determined Distribution Overview East Africa. Heartwood Color Red Brown Yellow Pink Purple Orange Greenish to greyish Yellow Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Sapwood Color White Yellow Pink Brown Same as heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Medium Coarse Fine to medium Even textured Luster Low Natural Durability Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to termites Very durable Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to attack by marine borers and termites Susceptible to attack by fungi and termites Odor Has an odor The wood possesses a strong onion-like scent when freshly cut. The odor occasionally persists when the wood is dried Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Moderate twist/warp Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Slowly Requires special attention Little degrade Moderate warping and checking Dries slowly It should be dried under cover to avoid excessive splitting Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Comments Generally strong and tough for its weight. Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fairly difficult to very difficult Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good carving qualities Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Poor to Very Poor Results Glues well Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good planing properties Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Difficult to treat with preservatives Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good sanding finish Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 36 lbs/ft3 Weight 35 28 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 576 kg/m3 References 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. 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 Brenan, J.P.M., Greenway, P.J.,1949,Check-lists of the Forest Trees and Shrubs of the British Empire,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford No.5 Tanganyika Territories Part 2 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]