Search for

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 Certified Source 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 Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Afzelia africana Trade Name Afzelia Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Afrafzelia africana Common Names Adja, Adya, Afzelia, Ahanta, Aja, Akpalata, Akpela, Aligna, Alinyan, Apa, Appa, Arachi, Ariyan, Ayan, Azza, Baa, Bachi, Balawao-kudu, Balawo-kudu, Beyo, Bilinga, Bodjembo, Bolengo, Bolengu, Counter wood, Douissie, Doussie, Fok, Gayo, Gayohi, Gbende, Gbleteo, Gongo, Hol, Kakala, Kapalaga, Kawo, Kinkalaga, Kontah, Kpa-kpa, Kpalga, Kpaliga, Kpendei, Kpendi-deli, Kpendi-guli, Kpendi-kpoli, Kuanguli, Kukpalik, Lengko, Lengue, Lingue, Liwamba, M'banga, Mahogany bean, Mahogany bean tree, Mbokora, Mboro, Meli, Mkola, Mussacosa, N'kokongo, Nenko, Ngboro, Olombi, Opapao, Opapeh, Pai, Papao, Papao-baum, Papawe, Papoa, Pau contra, Pau konta, Pauconta, Pepe, Rhodesian mahogany, Upa, Uvala, Wokpa, Yada, Yoruba bilinga Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical containers, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Paneling, Particleboard, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Globally secure Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview This widespread species occurs in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda and Zaire. In Ghana, the species is usually found in dry forest, especially in the forest-savanna borders. It tends to be scattered in areas with rocky soils. It can also be found in dense evergreen forests, especially from Senegal to Sudan, but by also be present in the east African coastal forests. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Orange Purple Tan Reddish brown Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown Turn reddish brown upon exposure Light brown Distinct in color from sapwood Creamy tan Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Whitish Pale straw Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Averages about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in width Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Straight Other (figure) Even Irregular Weak (figure) Interlocked Distinct and very fine figure Straight Other figure Distinct figure Weak figure Straight to interlocked Irregular Texture Coarse Medium Even or uniform Uniform Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Moderately coarse Even textured Luster Low Medium Dull Lustrous Medium Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Whitish deposits in vessels Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from marine borers Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Moderately resistant to attack by termites Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Some toxic effects Unspecified toxicity Respiratory effects Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Checking Distortion Extension of Existing Shakes Ring Shakes Slight surface checking Slight checking and cracking Shakes may become extended No twisting or warping No end splitting Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Radial and tangential shrinkage from 1-2% Moderate Dries slowly with little degrade Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Very slow Drying rate is slow Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is unknown Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 0-10 m Product Sources Exported on a regular basis. Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The wood contains a yellow dye-stuff (afzelin) which can stain textile materials under moist conditions Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Medium effect Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Boring Fairly easy to very easy Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutting edges are dulled rapidly Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Difficult to glue Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mortise Difficult to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to mould Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Stable Small movement in use Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Pre-Boring Recommended Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Difficult to nail Holds nails well Possible if prebored Pre-boring recommended Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Difficult to plane Planes well, to a good finish Reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees to prevent torn grain. Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is moderately treatable Sapwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Poorly Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine