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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 Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting 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 Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Detarium senegalense Trade Name Abu leile Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Detarium heudelotianum Common Names Abu leile, Agashindam, Aluki, Beligbele, Bodo, Boire, Boro, Boto, Boto-burureh, Bowisi, Bowiwasi, Butchanjack, Daba, Dankh, Datagh, Datarh, Dita, Ditah, Ditakh, Dole, Egba, Gboe, Gbolo, Gbor, Gbuyai, Goghoi, Gungoro, Hard mahogany, Ifa-inaki, Ka-kitan, Kadaga, Karkehi, Kolei, Konkehi, Kpagra, Kpay, Kpayliga, Kpe, Kpuyai, Kpwarag, Kukpukpa, Mahogany, Mambode, Ndooy, Nduigbii, Ofo, Ogbogbo, Ogwega, Okubaka, Pakpie, Pamugi, Papie, Parlega, Sarahonko, Taba, Takyikyiriwa, Talao, Tallo, Tallow tree, Talo, Tamba, Tambacoumba, Taura, Taurahurmi, Twetwiriwa, Ukhurohor, Uyo idiok, Zaklu Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer Environmental Profile Questionable Heartwood Color Brown Pink Red Reddish brown Dark brown Sapwood Color Yellow White White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Pink/Red Different than heartwood Grain Even Closed Straight Figure Wavy Distinct (figure) Straight Wavy Distinct figure Texture Coarse Medium Fine to medium Medium Medium to coarse Coarse Luster Lustrous Pronounced Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Perishable Non-resistant to termites Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Odor Has an odor Silica Content Siliceous Drying Defects Splitting Checking Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Medium to High Shrinkage Thick Stock Requires Care Little degrade Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Difficult to machine Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Veneers easily Painting Poor results Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor turning properties Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangenital =moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) =53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8670 13570 psi Density 48 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1326 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4218 6664 psi Stiffness 2167 2494 1000 psi Weight 47 38 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 609 954 kg/cm2 Density 769 kg/m3 Hardness 601 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 296 468 kg/cm2 Stiffness 152 175 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 753 608 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % 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 Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies 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./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France Gotz, E.,1983,Timber trees of the Gambia,Stiftung Walderhaltung in Afrika and Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Forst-,und Holzwirtschaft Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Savill, P.S., Fox, J.E.D.,1967,Trees of Sierra Leone 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 Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London