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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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cordia africana Trade Name Akoiyi Family Name Boraginaceae Synonyms Cordia abyssinica, Cordia holstii, Cordia unyorensis Common Names Akoiyi, Aliliba, Alilliba, Aluba, Chichikiri, East Africa cordia, Inderab, Khinghobe, Large leaved cordia, Lilibani, Mringaringa, Mtadola, Mugengere, Mugunguret, Mujugangoma, Mukebu, Mukumari, Mukumasi, Muringa, Muringaringa, Musingati, Musizio, Mutumba, Muzugangoma, Omujugangoma, Samotet, Samut Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe Common Uses Beehives, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Food containers, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Mathematical instruments, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Shingles, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Orange Brown Pale red to pink Reddish brown Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White to yellow Grain Figure Interlocked Straight Stripe (figure) Closed Even Variable (figure) Wavy Interlocked Straight Striped figure Variable figure Wavy Texture Coarse Medium Medium Medium to coarse Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Very durable Moderately durable Non durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Drying Defects Distortion No twisting or warping No end splitting Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Blunting Effect Little Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Good finishing results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Small Nailing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Turning Fair to Good Results Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Satisfactory results Good results Staining Surface Preparation Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6751 10584 psi Density 29 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3560 5901 psi Weight 28 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 474 744 kg/cm2 Density 464 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 250 414 kg/cm2 Weight 448 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % References Battiscombe, E., Dale, I.R.,1936,Trees and Shrubs of Kenya Colony,Govt. Printer Nairobi 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 Brehme, K.,1966,Timbers of Ethiopia No.7 East African Cordia (Cordia africana,Ethiopia Forest Research Institute, Haile Sellassie University, Addis,Ababa Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Grant, D.K.S.,1934,Some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Department Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Patterson, D.N.,1963,The strength of Kenya timbers, their derivation and application,Kenya Forestry Department Research Bulletin,No.23 Tack, C.H.,1953,Plywood and veneer species,Forest Department, Uganda. Technical Note 5/1953 Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda 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 Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya