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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Ekebergia rueppelliana Trade Name Ekebergia Family Name Meliaceae Synonyms Ekebergia petitiana Common Names Aradwi, Arariet, Araruet, Bumet, Croyuet, Ekebergia, Ekerbgia, Keribut, Kipumetet, Kondilwa, Lol, Manuka-masi, Mbo, Mongk-ho, Mongko, Monko, Mpotowandovu-mkuu, Mrongoleh, Msisi, Mufumba, Mukongo, Mukongu, Mukuriaungu, Mununga, Musimba, Ol mokuna, Omonyamavi, Ororuet, Rararuet, Teldet, Tewiwa, Ul-subukiai Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda Common Uses Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Broom handles, Brush backs & handles, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Office furniture, Paneling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Sporting Goods, Stools, Structural plywood, Tables , Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Vats, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Widely distributed in montane forests of East Africa (Tanzania and Uganda), also found in open grasslands and the coastal savanna belt. Heartwood Color Pale red to pink White to cream Pale brown Whitish Greenish to greyish Gray-White or pale brown upon drying. Sapwood Color Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Straight Figure Growth rings (figure) Wavy Even Closed Variable (figure) Texture Fine Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Fine to medium Fine to coarse Luster Medium Dull Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Perishable Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to pinhole borer Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to blue stain Susceptible to attack by marine borers and termites Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying (speed) is fast Thin boards are reported to kiln-dry in about 6 days. Drying Defects Moderate twist/warp Moderate cupping Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Easy Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7% Radial and tangential shrinkage from 1-2% Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Boles are short, heavily fluted, crooked, and seldom more than 30 feet (9 m) in length. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Little Boring Easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Low resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Mortising Finishes well Moulding Satisfactory moulding results Movement in Service Medium Stable Small Nailing Holds nails well Easy to nail Tends to split during nailing Planing Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a smooth surface Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Responds well to treatment Resistance to Splitting Poor Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Sanding Yields smooth, clean surfaces Screwing Screwing yields good results Turning Yields smooth, clean surface. Responds well Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Moderate polishing characteristics Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = very low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5711 8554 psi Density 39 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2139 3998 psi Shearing Strength 1221 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.46 Weight 38 30 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 401 601 kg/cm2 Density 624 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 150 281 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 85 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.46 Weight 608 480 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35 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., Norcross, H.,1961,The Resistance of Tanganyika Timbers to Impregnation,Tanzania Forest Dept. Util. Sec .Tech. Note,No.28 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Patterson, D.N.,1963,The strength of Kenya timbers, their derivation and application,Kenya Forestry Department Research Bulletin,No.23 Tack, C.H.,1958,The Strength Properties of some Uganda Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Bulletin No. 5 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 Tanzania Forest Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14 Tanzania Forest Department,1961,The Movement of Timbers Technical Note No.29,Tanzania Forest Department, Utilisation Division Technical Note Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tanzania Forest Division,1967,The Weights and Shrinkage of some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sect. Technical Note,No.25 Tanzania Forestry Department,1962,Timbers of Tanganyika - Ekebergia rueppelliana,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi - Timbers of,Tanganyika Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya