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Blunting Effect
Boring
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
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
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Turning

Scientific Name
Croton macrostachyus

Trade Name
Amuutu

Family Name
Euphorbiaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Amuutu, Ifurufuru, Mehunduzi, Mfirifiri, Mfurufuru, Mpululu, Mshunduzi, Mukuruguru, Mulangu, Mulemgu, Mulugu, Murangala, Musine, Musogasoga, Mutsutsu, Mutundu, Mutundu-nigura, Mutuntu, Muyemberera, Negeul, Tebesuet, Toboswa, Yalula

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Cameroon, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

Common Uses
Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Particleboard, Plywood, Posts, Veneer: decorative

Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Pink
White to cream
Greenish to greyish
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange


Sapwood Color
Same as heartwood


Grain
Straight
Closed
Even
Wavy

Straight
Wavy


Texture
Fine
Even or uniform
Uniform
Coarse
Medium
Medium to coarse
Fine
Fine to medium


Luster
Dull


Natural Durability
Very durable
Perishable
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Non durable
Susceptible to marine borer attack


Odor
Has an odor


Toxicity
Respiratory effects


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast


Drying Defects
Moderate end spitting
Severe twisting/warping
Severe surface checking


Ease of Drying
Reconditioning Treatement
Fairly Easy


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is not buttressed


Blunting Effect
Little


Boring
Poor to very poor results
Fairly easy to very easy


Cutting Resistance
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Easy to glue


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Medium
Large


Nailing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to nail


Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to plane
Planes to a poor finish
Planes well, to a good finish
Planes to a satisfactory finish


Resistance to Impregnation
Heartwood is permeable
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to Work
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to machine


Screwing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Turning
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Steam Bending
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Polishing
Fair to Good Results


Staining
Fair to Good Results


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength61119589psi
Density32lbs/ft3
Maximum Crushing Strength39166397psi
Shearing Strength1560psi
Stiffness135815681000 psi
Weight3125lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage5%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength429674kg/cm2
Density512kg/m3
Maximum Crushing Strength275449kg/cm2
Shearing Strength109kg/cm2
Stiffness951101000 kg/cm2
Weight496400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%

References
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

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

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

Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London

Keay, R.W.J., et al,1960,Nigerian Trees Vol.1,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan

McCoy-Hill, M.,1955,Timbers of Tanganyika - Mulugu and Mkaraka,Timber Technology,63(2187, p20

Patterson, D.N.,1963,The strength of Kenya timbers, their derivation and application,Kenya Forestry Department Research Bulletin,No.23

Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Croton macrostachys (Mutundu,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika

United Kingdom - H.M.S.O.,1954,Report of the Matchwood Working Party,H.M.S.O. for the Board of Trade and Ministry of Materials

Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya









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