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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 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Ctenolophon englerianus Trade Name Okip Family Name Linaceae Common Names Ijaw me, Me, Okip Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria Common Uses Agricultural implements, Barge fenders, Boat building (general), Boat building, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Canoes, Construction, Crossties, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Flooring, Fuelwood, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Lifeboats, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Naval architecture, Parquet flooring, Poles, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Truck bodies, Utility poles, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs on the west coast of Africa, from south-western Nigeria to Cameroon and Gabon. It is usually found in freshwater swamp forests. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Purple Pink Orange Yellowish tan Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Straight Crossed Straight Crossed Texture Fine Fine Luster High Low Natural Durability Resistant to termites Durable Very durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Moderately durable Durable Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Resistant to decay Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles It is resistant to termite attack, but is liable to attack by marine borers. The timber has excellent resistance to the harmful effects of the weather, and is well suited for exterioir applications Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Extension of Existing Shakes Prone to warping and splitting Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Thick Stock Requires Care Requires special attention Requires slow and careful seasoning to prevent degrade. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Very slow Drying rate is slow Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 20-30 m Comments Generally strong, tough, and hard. Oil Content The wood contains oil deposits Blunting Effect High to severe Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Fair to good results Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting resistance is high Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Pre-Boring is necessary Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Peel and slice easily because they are typically well-formed and not very hard Difficult to use machine tools Resistance to Abrasion High Good for flooring Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Poor response to hand tools Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fair to Good Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer No drying degrade Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Surface Preparation Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = large Max. crushing strength = very high Max. crushing strength = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Heavy Hardness (side grain) = very hard Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) =53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft It is stronger than Hard maple, White oak, or Teak. It is hard - harder than Hard maple or Teak The wood is very heavy. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 18167 26434 psi Density 58 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2628 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 8070 11903 psi Shearing Strength 2156 psi Stiffness 2157 2486 1000 psi Weight 58 46 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1277 1858 kg/cm2 Density 929 kg/m3 Hardness 1192 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 567 836 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 151 kg/cm2 Stiffness 151 174 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 929 737 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % 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 Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Keay, R.W.J., et al,1960,Nigerian Trees Vol.1,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23 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