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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 Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Guarea thompsonii Trade Name Guarea Family Name Meliaceae Common Names Akpaku, Avellano, Black guarea, Bo-in-dah, Bolon, Bosse, Busi, Cedar mahogany, Cedron, Close grained mahogany, Dark bosse, Diambi, Dikunze, Guano blanco, Guarea, Guarea bosse, Hapopeya, Kaffi, Koguibe, Kwabohoro, Lombe, Mietandabo, Mutigbanaga, Mutigbanaye, Nigerian cedar, Nigerian pearwood, Nuguata, Obabonekwi, Obobo, Obobo nekwi, Obobo-nekwi, Obobonekwi, Oboborukin, Ofe, Scented mahogany, Sidu, Sweet cedar, Teninini, Timbi, Tshidiamakeka, Ugbokpo Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, 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, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Paneling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Structural plywood, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Status unsure as a result of insufficient information Status unknown in many of its growth areas Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare in some parts of its natural range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Endangered in Liberia and Vulnerable in Cameroon and Ivory Coast. Its environmental status in the wild is listed as unknown in Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zaire because of inadequate information Distribution Overview This species is found in Cameroon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Zaire. It is a shade tolerant species found in moist and evergreen forest hillsides. Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Purple Black Pink Orange Pale red to pink Reddish brown Pale brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Darkens with age Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey Well defined Pinkish Paler than heartwood White to yellow Grain Straight Figure Wavy Distinct (figure) Interlocked Closed Even Growth rings (figure) Mottled (figure) Straight Wavy Distinct figure Interlocked Figure shows mottle Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium Even or uniform Uniform Very fine Coarse Fine Fine to medium Very fine Medium Luster Medium High Lustrous Pronounced Dull Natural Growth Defects Gum/resin exudation Board surfaces are sometimes sticky due to gum exudation at high temperatures Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Durable Resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Durable Moderately durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Very durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Heartwood moderately resistant to termite attack Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Respiratory effects Unspecified toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 UK=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US Drying Defects Splitting Resin Exudation Distortion Slight surface checking No twisting or warping Slight twist/warp Moderate end spitting Slight end splitting No end splitting Moderate surface checking Expect resin/gum exudation Requires care since the material is liable to split and check during kiln drying. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Gum Exudation Easy Variable results. Requires care Moderate Difficult The timber air-seasons easily, however some care is needed during kiln-drying in order to minimize defects. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Bole length is 0-10 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Boles are often straight, long and well-formed. 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 Narrow stock is apt to split in nailing. Splitting Blunting Effect Moderate Little High to severe Blunting effect on machining is slight Cuting edges are dulled moderately Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good results Cutting Resistance Easy 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 Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to glue Fair gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Stable The timber is dimensionally stable after seasoning. Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to nail Good nailing qualities Difficult to nail Narrow stock may split. Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to plane Yields clean surfaces Responds very well to both hand and machine tools Material planes, turns, moulds, mortises, and bores to produce relatively smooth surfaces, except in quartersawn stock with interlocked grain which may cause the grain to pick-up Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is impermeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Difficult to machine Good response to hand tools There may be some pick up in material with interlocked grain. Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results