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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. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Cordia caffra Trade Name Lovu-lovu Family Name Boraginaceae Common Names Lovu-lovu, Oudenout, Septee, Um-nofu-nofu Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] South Africa Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Plywood, Posts, Vats, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Green/grey Red Pink Orange Sapwood Color White Yellow Grain Even Interlocked Straight Straight Interlocked Texture Medium Coarse Coarse Luster Medium High Natural Durability Durable Perishable Moderately durable Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to powder post beetles Durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately durable Drying Defects Distortion Checking Splitting Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = hard Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 51 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2318 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5905 8762 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 1358 1568 1000 psi Weight 50 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 817 kg/m3 Hardness 1051 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 415 616 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 110 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 801 641 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % References 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 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] 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 Man Mohan Singh, et al.,1977,A reappraisal of the suitability of Melia azedarach as a paper making new,material,Indian Forester 103(9) pp641-50 Sim, T.R.,1921,Native Trees of South Africa,Union of South Africa Department of Mines and Industries Memoir No.3 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