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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 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 Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cephalosphaera usambarensis Trade Name Mtambara Family Name Myristicaceae Common Names Ekoune, Mtambao, Mtambara Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Mozambique, Tanzania Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boxes and crates, Carvings, Construction, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Millwork, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Turnery Environmental Profile Vulnerable Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center The conservation status of this species within its natural growth habitat is currently unknown because of lack of information Distribution Overview Occurs in isolated patches in evergreen rain forests of Tanzania, on steep mountain slopes at altitudes of 3,000 to 4,000 ft. Heartwood Color Yellow Reddish brown Pale brown Pale red to pink Pinkish brown Greenish to greyish The appearance of the wood is described as rather plain and figureless. Sapwood Color Yellow Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Weak (figure) Figure Even Straight Weak figure Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Coarse Medium Medium Fine to medium Fine Even textured Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Perishable The sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Very little natural resistance Susceptible to attack by fungi Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Rapid extraction of logs after felling is required to prevent attack by ambrosia beetles. An anti-stain treatment is recommended before stacking for air-seasoning. Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying (speed) is fast Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Slight cupping Moderate cupping Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Easy Dries slowly with little degrade Air-dries rather well Can also be kiln-dried rapidly Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Easy to mortise Moulding Easy to mould Good finishing results Movement in Service Medium Large Not stable/prone to move Nailing Easy to nail Holds satisfactorily Good nailing qualities Planing Planes to a satisfactory finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Sanding Good sanding finish Sanded surfaces are clean and smooth Turning Good results Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Easy to cut Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Weight = heavy Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = mediun Hardness = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Strength properties are generally lower than those of European beech (Fagus), but stiffness is comaparable Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14181 psi Density 35 lbs/ft3 Hardness 618 lbs Impact Strength 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6479 psi Shearing Strength 1560 psi Stiffness 1999 2400 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.44 Weight 34 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 997 kg/cm2 Density 560 kg/m3 Hardness 280 kg Impact Strength 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 275 455 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 109 kg/cm2 Stiffness 140 168 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.44 Weight 544 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References 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 Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. 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 Bryce, J.M., Norcross, H.,1961,The Resistance of Tanganyika Timbers to Impregnation,Tanzania Forest Dept. Util. Sec .Tech. Note,No.28 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. Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France Garratt, G.A.,1933,Systematic anatomy of the woods of the Myristicacaeae,Tropical Woods,5(35,pp6-48 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. Malde, K.,1972,Design Stresses for Seasoned Cephalosphaera usambarensis (Mtambara,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Tech. Note,No.41 Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Pardy, A.A.,1951,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Brachystegia,spiciformis,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1604 Patterson, D. 1988. Commercial Timbers of the World. Fifth Edition. Gower Technical Press, Aldershot, UK. ix + 339 pp. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London 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 - Timber Marketing Co. Ltd.,1978,Timber from Tanzania Tanzania Forest Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14 Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Cephalosphaera usambarensis (Mtambera,Tanzania Forest Div. 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 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.