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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 Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
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
Staining
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing

Scientific Name
Erythroxylum mannii

Trade Name
Landa

Family Name
Erythroxylaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Bimini, Dabe, Ditsumi, Landa, Lukienzo, Luzinzou, N'dabe, N'kanza, Ndabe, Nkanza, Pepesia

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zaire

Common Uses
Beams, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Porch columns, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rough construction, Rustic furniture, Stools, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
Sierra Leone to Cameroon, and inland to the Congo, though fairly sparse. Occurs in both evergreen and deciduous forests, often present in small groups.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Green/grey
Pale red to pink
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Reddish brown
Pale brown


Sapwood Color
Different than heartwood
White to yellow
Grey
Copper sheen
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Figure
Distinct (figure)
Interlocked
Straight
Even
Closed
Wavy
Mottled (figure)
Stripe (figure)

Distinct figure
Interlocked
Straight
Wavy
Striped figure
Mottled figure

The wood has numerous pith flecks, noticeable as dark lines 12 to 24 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) long.

Texture
Fine
Even or uniform
Fine
Medium
Fine to medium
Even textured


Luster
Lustrous


Natural Growth Defects
Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive


Natural Durability
Moderately durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Moderately durable
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to decay
Moderately resistant to attack by termites
Moderately resistant to attack by marine borers

Very high resistance to the adverse effects of the weather.

Odor
No specific smell or taste


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast


Drying Defects
No end splitting should be expected
No surface checking
Slight end splitting
No twisting or warping
Distortion (twist/warp) is likely
Checking


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Easy

Drying rate varies from slow to fairly rapid

Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is buttressed


Tree Size
Bole length is 10-20 m
Tree height is 10-20 m
Tree height is 20-30 m


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Slight effect


Boring
Bore holes are smooth on the surface

Carving
Good results


Cutting Resistance
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Easy to glue
Good properties


Mortising
Good mortising properties
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Good moulding properties
Easy to mould


Movement in Service
Not stable/prone to move


Nailing
Easy to nail
Holds nails well


Planing
Easy to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Sapwood is moderately resistant
Heartwood is resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to machine
Yields a smooth, clean finish


Routing & Recessing
Good in both routing and recessing.


Sanding
Yields smooth, clean surfaces
Good sanding finish


Screwing
Good screw holding properties
Fairly good characteristics


Turning
Yields smooth, clean surface.


Painting
Good results


Polishing
Satisfactory results
Very good results


Staining
Stains well
Stains evenly


Varnishing
Good results


Strength Properties
Max. crushing strength = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Max. crushing strength = high
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate
Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = very high


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1196716442psi
Density41lbs/ft3
Hardness973lbs
Impact Strength31inches
Maximum Crushing Strength48347555psi
Shearing Strength1699psi
Stiffness140917121000 psi
Work to Maximum Load12inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.430.54
Weight4032lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage8%
Volumetric Shrinkage11%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength8411156kg/cm2
Density657kg/m3
Hardness441kg
Impact Strength78cm
Maximum Crushing Strength339531kg/cm2
Shearing Strength119kg/cm2
Stiffness991201000 kg/cm2
Work to Maximum Load0.84cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.430.54
Weight641512kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage8%

References
Armstrong, F.H.,Mechanical and physical properties of Landa (Erythroxylum mannii,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough,, pp1-3

Bertin, A., Meniaud, J.,1949,Timbers of the Cameroons,Compagnie Francais du Cameroon,(Transl. by F.Jane)

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1950,Landa (Erythoxylum mannii,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.13,pp43-6

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.

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

France - C.T.F.T.,1960,Resultats des Observations et des Essais Effectues au CTFT sur le Landa,C.T.F.T. Information technique,No.71

Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data

Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London

Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)

Normand, D.,1937,Le Bois du Landa, Erythroxylum du Cameroun,Revue Bot. Appl. et Agricole,17196, pp883-9

Rendle, B.J., Pettifor,Note on Brittleheart in Landa (Erythroxylum mannii,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, TM 0/388

Revue des Bois et de ses Applications,1957,Landa (Erythroxylum mannii,Revue des Bois et de ses Applications,12(12,p37

Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T

Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23

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