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Boring
Carving
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning

Scientific Name
Garcinia kola

Trade Name
Adu

Family Name
Guttiferae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Adu, Bita-kola, Bitter cola, Ebongagnagne, Edun, Efiat, Efrie, Etirai, Goro, Kofe, Ntu, Ojie, Okain, Okan, Onie, Orogbo, Sagbe, Sagbei, Sagbi, Sefufudua, Suapea, Swa-meh, Ta-sagbe, Tiampa, Twapea, Tweapea, Twiapia, Ugolu

Regions of Distribution
Africa

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

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure
Rare


Heartwood Color
Red
Brown
Purple
Greenish to greyish
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Brown
Pale brown


Sapwood Color
Yellow
White
Same as heartwood
White to yellow


Grain
Even
Straight

Straight


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Fine
Fine to medium
Coarse


Luster
Slightly lustrous
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Very durable
Sapwood not resistant to insect attack
Moderately durable
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Perishable
Non durable
Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack


Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Drying Defects
Checking
Distortion
Moderate end spitting


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Difficult


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


Tree Size
Tree height is 20-30 m


Boring
Fairly difficult to very difficult


Carving
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Gluing
Easy to glue


Mortising
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Moulding
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Nailing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Difficult to nail


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Response to Hand Tools
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Screwing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Turning
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult


Polishing
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Strength Properties
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Density51lbs/ft3
Weight5040lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage5%
Tangential Shrinkage9%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Density817kg/m3
Weight801641kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage5%

References
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

Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153

Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun

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

Keay, R.W.J., et al,1960,Nigerian Trees Vol.1,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan

Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos

Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159

Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim

Savill, P.S., Fox, J.E.D.,1967,Trees of Sierra Leone

Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons