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 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 Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Erythrophleum guineense Trade Name Alui Family Name Leguminosae Common Names A-kon, Adjuga, Akpa, Akpa etuidiwi, Alui, Arachi, Arue, Atiemia, Atiuhia, Babala, Baska, Bolodo, Bolondo, Buirane, Bungoro, Burene, Digpende, Dikassaa-kassa, Elegue-muani, Ellong, Elondo, Eloun, Elui, Elun, Erue, Erui, Erun, Erun obo, Evun, Eyo, Gbanga-gbende, Gogwi, Gue, Guhie, Guilutu, Gwaska, Ibo, Idip, Ifwon, Inyi, Inyii, Inyin, Jallin baro, Jru, Ka-kontha, Kakawa, Kassa, Kbande, Keke-ru, Kekeu, Koe-kon, Koro, Kulenten, Lakpa, Limdu Gabon, Lo, Loundi, Manconi, Massanda, Mauve, Mbaraka, Mbele, Meli, Messanda, Mishenga, Missanda, Missandra, Mkelekele, Mkina, Mkuu, Mongoro, Muave, Muavi, Mumara, Mwafi, Mwaui, Mwavi, Ndom, Ngero, Ngogbei, Nko, Obo, Oginyi, Oguiyi, Okeze, Oloun, Orachi, Ordeal bark, Ordeal tree, Orhue, Ovinyin, Potrodom, Red water tree, Sachi, Sahi, Sangay, Sasswood, Sassword, Sassybark, Tali, Talimbaro, Tehi, Telehi, Teli, Tsa Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Charcoal, Construction, Crossties, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Framing, Furniture, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Questionable Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Believed present in evergreen, deciduous, and savannah forests in Gambia. Heartwood Color Brown Red Green/grey Pink Purple Black Reddish brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Darkens significantly upon exposure Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey White to yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Creamy white Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Irregular Interlocked Irregular Generally interlocked or irregular, producing an attractive figure. Texture Fine Even or uniform Coarse Coarse to very coarse Luster Low Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to marine borers Durable Resistant to termites Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from marine borers Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Very resistant to termite attack. Very high natural resistance Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content High Siliceous Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Respiratory effects Poisonous Seed and bark of the tree are poisonous if ingested. Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Splitting Severe twisting/warping Severe surface checking Moderate twist/warp Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Slowly Easy Dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Bark width is 5-10 mm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is severe High effect Blunting effect on sawing green wood is severe Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Poor results Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor results Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor mortising properties Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult moulding qualities Movement in Service Small Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Holds nails well Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to plane Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a poor finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is treatable Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is highly resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Poorly Difficult to machine Poor response to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult in both routing and recessing Sanding Yields smooth, clean surfaces Good sanding finish Screwing Screwing yields good results Good screw holding properties Difficult to screw Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning qualities are poor Good results Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Diifficult to veneer Bolt preparation requires steaming Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Satisfactory results High finish Varnishing Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Max. crushing strength = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = hard Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = very high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 16342 21113 psi Density 59 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2529 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 9408 12861 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 2070 2311 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.65 Weight 55 47 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1148 1484 kg/cm2 Density 945 kg/m3 Hardness 1147 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 661 904 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 145 162 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.65 Weight 881 753 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] Bertin, A., Meniaud, J.,1949,Timbers of the Cameroons,Compagnie Francais du Cameroon,(Transl. by F.Jane) 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 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 Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Gotz, E.,1983,Timber trees of the Gambia,Stiftung Walderhaltung in Afrika and Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Forst-,und Holzwirtschaft Gutierrez Oliva, A., Plaza Pulgar, F.,1967,Caracteristicas fisico-mecanicas de las maderas Espanolas. (Physical and,mechanical properties of Spanish timbers.,Min.Agric./Dir.Gen Montes/Instituto Forestral de Investigaciones,y,Experiencias, Madrid pp102 HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi. Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T 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 Division,1967,The Weights and Shrinkage of some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sect. Technical Note,No.25 Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1