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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Mortising Moulding Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Garcinia gerrardii Trade Name Muchasi Family Name Guttiferae Common Names Muchasi, Munyawa, Musuanandui, Mutachiru Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Kenya, South Africa Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mine timbers, Poles, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Toys Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale brown Sapwood Color Yellow Green/Grey Grain Even Interlocked Straight Texture Fine Natural Growth Defects Brittleheart is rare or absent. When present, it is sparse in amount Natural Durability Resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Non durable Moderately durable Drying Defects Checking Distortion Moderate twist/warp Moderate spring/bow Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is unknown 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 Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 53 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 5905 8762 psi Shearing Strength 1989 psi Stiffness 1665 1923 1000 psi Weight 52 42 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 849 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 415 616 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 139 kg/cm2 Stiffness 117 135 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 833 673 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % 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 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 Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 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 Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya