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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 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 Schedules 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 Screwing Silica Content Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Cordyla africana Trade Name Cordyla Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Cordyla richardi Common Names Bunguru, Cordyla, Deki, Dimb, Dimbu, Doda, Douto, Dugura, Duguto, Duki, Dura, Duto, Mbachanga, Metondo, Mgwata, Mnyungwinyungwi, Mpachamu, Mroma, Mtigonzi, Mtondo, Mufondo, Mukumari, Mumbwe, Mutondo, Nar, Ndimbu, Ntondo, Wankore, wella kono duto, Wild mango Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Congo, Guinea, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Construction, Crossties, Factory construction, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Paneling, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Vehicle parts, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status unknown in many of its growth areas Secure in many areas of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Status unknown because of insufficient information in Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Afric Distribution Overview Locally common in riparian and swamp forests throughout northern and eastern Tanzania. Heartwood Color Yellow White Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Reddish brown Pinkish brown Golden brown Dark brown Sapwood Color White to yellow Paler than heartwood Grayish cast Grain Interlocked Distinct (figure) Figure Wavy Closed Interlocked Distinct figure Wavy Texture Coarse Medium Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Luster Medium Natural Durability Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Non-resistant to termites Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Heartwood resistant to decay Heartwood has little resistance to termites Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content High Siliceous Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate cupping Slight twist/warp Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Moderately Difficult to Difficult Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7% Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Good results Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Breaks near patches of irregular grain Movement in Service Medium Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Difficult to nail Pre-boring recommended Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Difficult to plane Reduction of cutting angle recommended Planes well, to a good finish Areas of uneven grain reduces quality of planing Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Poor response Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is easy Routing is difficult Sanding Easy to sand Good sanding finish Screwing Pre-boring recommended Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor results Difficult to turn Polishing Satisfactory results Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = low Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Very heavy Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Resists denting and marring Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density = high Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7071 11869 psi Crushing Strength 1744 psi Density 53 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1783 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5573 8354 psi Shearing Strength 1813 psi Static Bending 7918 psi Stiffness 1311 1696 1000 psi Toughness 187 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.64 0.73 Weight 50 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 497 834 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 122 kg/cm2 Density 849 kg/m3 Hardness 808 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 391 587 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 127 kg/cm2 Static Bending 556 kg/cm2 Stiffness 92 119 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 215 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.64 0.73 Weight 801 641 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % 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. 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] 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 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.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi Cardoso, J.G.A.,1969,Madeiras de Mocambique 11 - Cordyla africana,Servicos de Agricultura Mocambique,Publ. Serie A,No.23 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Ferreirinha, M.P.,1955,Catalogo des Madeiras de Mocambique (pt 1,Min. do Ultramar Junta Invest. do Ultranar Memorias Serie Botanica, 2 Fortin, Y., Poliquin, J.,1976,Natural Durability and Preservation of 100 Tropical African Woods,International Development Research Centre, Canada 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 Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12 McCoy-Hill, M.,1956,Timbers of Tanganyika - Mfurangi, Mfuranji and Mroma,Timber Technology,64(2204, p305 Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Organisation for European Economic Co-operation,1951,African Tropical Timber (Nomenclature, Description,OEEC Pardy, A.A.,1954,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Cordyla africana,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1759 Portugal - Min. do Ultramar,1956,Essencias Florestais da Guine Portuguesa,Min. do Ultramar Jardin e Museu Agriccola do Ultramar Sousa, A.G.E.,1966,Dendrologia de Mocambique (2vols,Inst. de Invest. Agronomica de Mocambique 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 Forest Division,1966,Cordyla africana (mroma,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya