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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules 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 Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Dacryodes edulis Trade Name Assa-mingong Family Name Burseraceae Synonyms Pachylobus edulis Common Names Assa-mingong, Belemena mai, Diganga, Dimena, Eyomediome, Igaganga, Ollem, Ossabel, Ossamvegne Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, Zambia Common Uses Boat building (general), Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Black Purple Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale red to pink Greenish to greyish Brown Sapwood Color Yellow White Grain Wavy Closed Figure Interlocked Straight Even Distinct (figure) Wavy Straight Interlocked Distinct figure Texture Fine Very fine Even or uniform Uniform Medium Fine to medium Coarse Luster Low Medium Natural Durability Very durable Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Non durable Durable Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Splitting Checking Ease of Drying Slowly Moderately Difficult to Difficult End-Coating Requires special attention Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 0-10 m Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Bole length is 20-30 m Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mould Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Easy to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is very resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Good sanding finish Screwing Pre-boring recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Steam Bending Unsuitable Poor to Very Poor Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangenital =moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11230 17405 psi Density 36 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Shearing Strength 1221 psi Stiffness 1358 1568 1000 psi Weight 35 28 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 789 1223 kg/cm2 Density 576 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 85 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 110 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 560 448 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1947,Ozigo - Pachylobus bultneri,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.3,pp43-6 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1957,Igaganga - Dacryodes edulia,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.52,pp17-20 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department France - C.T.F.T.,1960,Resultats des Observations et des essais effectues au CTFT sur Igaganga,C.T.F.T.,Information Technique, No.78 Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5 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 White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London