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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 Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Silica Content Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Erythrophleum suaveolens Trade Name Tali Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Fillaea suaveolens Common Names A-kon, Aba, Abawa, Adjuga, Akpa, Akpa etuidiwi, Akwir, Alui, Arue, Atiemia, Atiuhia, Atsa, Baier, Baska, Bentabe, Betiche, Betomo, Bolondo, Boutite, Buirame, Buirane, Bungoro, Burene, Digpende, Earamor, Elegue-muani, Ellong, Elon, Elondo, Elone, Eloun, Elui, Elun, Erue, Erui, Erui-alui, Erun, Erun obo, Etsa, Gbangba-gbende, Gogbei, Gogwi, Gue, Guhie, Guilutu, Gwaska, Idip, Ifwon, Inyi, Inyin, Ipomi, Jallin baro, Jru, Ka-kontha, Kassa, Kbande, Keke-au, Kekeu, Koe-kon, Kokudabo, Kulenten, Kwon, Macone, Mancone, Manconi, Mbaraka, Mbele, Meli, Missanda, Mkarati, Mkelekele, Mkola, Muave, Mumara, Mwavi, N'kassa, Ndom, Ngogbei, Nkassa, Nko, Odiodi, Oginni, Oginyi, Orachi, Ordeal tree, Orhue, Ovinyin, Peli, Potrodom, Red water tree, Sachi, Sahi, Sangay, Sasswood, Sassy bark, Tali, Tali y roble africano, Talo, Tehi, Telehi, Teli, Tsa Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, 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, Charcoal, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Siding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction, Wheels Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Found in gallery forests in the northern and central parts of Mozambique. Heartwood Color Brown Green/grey Yellow Red Orange Black White Pink Reddish brown Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Dark brown Yellowish brown Red Pale red to pink Darkens significantly upon exposure Dark brown Species from East Africa are lighter in color Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Paler than heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Typically highly interlocked, but is occasionally slightly interlocked. Texture Fine Medium Coarse Medium Fine Luster Medium Low Lustrous Natural Durability Durable Resistant to marine borers Very durable Resistant to termites Moderately durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Resistant to marine borer attack Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content High Siliceous Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Respiratory effects Sawdust can cause nose irritation in some individuals Poisonous Dermatitic effects Seed and bark of the tree are poisonous if ingested. Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Checking Distortion Splitting Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting Moderate end spitting Warping can be expected Slight surface checking No surface checking No end splitting should be expected Checking Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bark width is 5-10 mm Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an occasional source for timber production, and has a rather low export potential. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Known as Sasswood in Nigeria, the bark of this tree is reported to yield a poisonous extract that was used locally in trials by ordeal. Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Slight effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Specially-tipped cutters recommended Cutting resistance with dry wood is variable Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue May require surface treatment for best results Difficult to glue Movement in Service Small Nailing Difficult to nail Pre-boring required Possible if prebored Holds nails well Planing Difficult to plane Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Difficult to machine Poor response to hand tools Sanding Good sanding finish Easy to sand Turning Good results Easy to turn Difficult to turn Polishing Satisfactory results Good results Strength Properties Bending strength (MOR) = high Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Max. crushing strength = very high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu.ft Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Hardness (side grain) = very hard Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = hard Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high High in density Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14402 23883 psi Density 60 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2087 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 8191 11494 psi Shearing Strength 2132 psi Stiffness 1865 2234 1000 psi Weight 62 55 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 12 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1012 1679 kg/cm2 Density 961 kg/m3 Hardness 946 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 575 808 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 149 kg/cm2 Stiffness 131 157 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 993 881 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa. 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 & Ott