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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 Certified Source 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 Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Guarea cedrata Trade Name Guarea Family Name Meliaceae Common Names African cedar, Anokue, Belii, Bonsannua, Bosae, Bosasa, Bosassa, Bossassa, Bosse, Bosse clair, Bosse', Bossi, Cedar mahogany, Cedron, Diambi, Ditoke, Duruiti, Dzana, Ebangbembra, Ebangbemva, Edoucie', Guano blanco, Guarea, Guarea bosse, Guissu, Kwabohoro, Kwabohuro, Kwadwema, Light bosse, Lofun, Lombe, Mbosse', Ngbose, Nigerian cedar, Nigerian pearwood, Obobo, Obobo nofua, Obobo-nofwa, Obodo blanc, Onwamdua, Ossoung, Pahiapo, Penkwa, Scented guarea, Scented mahogany, Telemia, Tenumeadomei, Tshidiamakeka, White guarea Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Structural plywood, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status unsure as a result of insufficient information Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare in some parts of its natural range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Secure in Cameroon, Congo, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, but it is officially classified as Endangered in Liberia and Vulnerable in the Ivory Coast. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown due to lack of information in Ghana, Nigeria, and Zaire Distribution Overview The range of both species overlaps in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and southern Nigeria. G. cedrata extends into the Cameroons. G. Cedreta trees are most common in moist semi-deciduous forest and in the dryer undisturbed areas of moist evergreen forest. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Black Red Pale red to pink Brown Reddish brown Pale brown White to cream Pinkish brown Darkens with age The heartwood initially has a pale pinkish-brown mahogany color, but it darkens with age. Sapwood Color Yellow White White to yellow Paler than heartwood Well defined The sapwood is somewhat lighter and paler than the heartwood color, which is a pale pink brown when freshly cut, darkening on exposure. Grain Figure Straight Distinct (figure) Wavy Interlocked Mottled (figure) Closed Even Rippled (figure) Growth rings (figure) Straight Distinct figure Wavy Interlocked Figure shows mottle Rippled figure Curly Clear growth rings (figure) Plain-Cut material is reported to often show a small zig-zag figure. Texture Fine Coarse Medium Fine Fine to medium Medium Luster Lustrous Pronounced Natural Growth Defects Yellowish deposits in vessels Gum/resin exudation Gum spots which can easily be sanded off occasionally appear on boards and veneer. The gum can dull saws and cutters, especially when the wood is warm Natural Durability Durable Very durable Resistant to termites Moderately durable Durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Moderately durable Very durable Non durable Moderately resistant to attack by termites Moderately resistant to attack by pinhole borers Timber is moderately resistant to termites, and only occasionally attacked by pinhole borers. Resistance to white rot is variable. The species has good weathering characteristics. Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Siliceous Slight Contains silica The wood is reported to contain medium levels of silica (0.11% of ovendry weight). Silica levels above 0.05% is generally considered to be enough to affect the properties of timber. Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals Respiratory effects Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 Dry at a slow speed T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Slight twist/warp No twisting or warping No end splitting Slight end splitting Slight surface checking Expect resin/gum exudation No surface checking The wood tends to dry fairly rapidly with a slight tendency to warp. Kiln drying requires care to avoid resin exudation. There is also a tendency towards splitting Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Dries rapidly with little degrade Radial - 2.3% Shrinkage Values (Green to 12% MC) Tangential - 3.7% Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries at a moderate speed Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm It develops long and cylindrical boles, and is buttressed. Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is an important and regular source of timber for export. Certified Source Certified Source Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Splitting There is a slight tendency for this stock to split. Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Medium effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Moderately easy The material has fairly good boring properties Carving Responds fairly well to carving Cutting Resistance Moderate to saw Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Low cutting resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Finishes well Fair mortising properties Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good finishing results Fair moulding results (50+ % of pieces will yield good to excellent results) Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Stable Medium Properly seasoned timber is stable, and undergoes minimal dimensional changes in response to fluctuations in atmospheric conditions. Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to nail Holds nails well Good nailing qualities Planing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Quartersawn material has slight tendency to pick up during planing. Resistance to Abrasion Highly resistant to wear Good for flooring Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Difficult to machine Responds fairly well to hand tools Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Routing is easy Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results