Search for

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. 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 Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Varnishing Scientific Name Guibourtia coleosperma Trade Name African rosewood Family Name Leguminosae Common Names African rosewood, Bastermopane, False mopane, Large false mopane, M'chibi, Machibi, Mchibi, Mehibi, Mtjibi, Muchiva, Mucibe, Mushibi, Musibe, Musibi, Mussibi, Mussive, Muxibe, Muzaule, Muzauli, Muzauri, Muzzibi, Rhodesian copalwood, Rhodesian mahogany, Rhodesian teak, Umtshibi Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Crossties, Decorative veneer, Factory flooring, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Millwork, Mine timbers, Paneling , Paneling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Tropical Africa Heartwood Color Purple Black Brown Red Red Reddish brown Dark brown Purple Pinkish brown Pink when freshly cut Pale red to pink Freshly-Cut color is pinkish-brown, with darker almost purple streaks. The color ages to a rich mahogany red-brown, and the streaks become less obvious. Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Interlocked Straight Figure Distinct (figure) Even Rippled (figure) Interlocked Straight Distinct figure Rippled figure The wood is less figured than Bubinga (Guibourtia) Texture Medium Fine to medium Fine Medium coarse to coarse Luster Medium Dull Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Natural Durability Very durable Durable Moderately durable Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to attack by decay fungi The timber has very high resistance to abrasion, and is well suited for flooring in high traffic areas. Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects No twisting or warping Ease of Drying Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bark width is 10-15 mm Product Sources About 1480 cubic feet (40 cub. m) of the timber is available per month from sustainably managed sources in Africa. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Saws without difficulty Gluing Easy to glue Movement in Service Stable Nailing Possible if prebored Difficult to nail Planing Easy to plane Yields smooth surfaces Planes well, to a good finish Difficult to plane Planing and other machining operations are somewhat difficult, but the wood can be worked to yield a smooth surface. Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is extremely resistant Very poor response to preservative treatment Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good results Satisfactory results Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Hardness (side grain) = hard Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high The bending strength of air-dried wood of the species is similar to that of Teak, which is considered to be strong. Compression strength parallel to grain in the air-dry condition is high. Teak, White oak, and Hard maple have high crushing strength. It is hard - harder than Teak, and does not marr or dent easily. It is a very heavy wood. The density of the wood is very high. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10893 14629 psi Crushing Strength 2038 psi Density 50 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2090 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 4413 7260 psi Shearing Strength 2202 psi Static Bending 7144 psi Stiffness 1103 1326 1000 psi Toughness 206 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.66 Weight 49 38 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 765 1028 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 143 kg/cm2 Density 801 kg/m3 Hardness 948 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 310 510 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 154 kg/cm2 Static Bending 502 kg/cm2 Stiffness 77 93 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 237 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.66 Weight 785 608 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa. 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 Chalk, L., et al,1932,Some East African Coniferae and Leguminosae,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 1 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 Hartwig, G.L.F.,1966,Flooring Timber in South Africa - Guiboutia coleosperma,South African Builder,44(12, pp33-5 HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Palgrave, K.C.,1977,Trees of Southern Africa,Cape Town South Africa Pardy, A.A.,1952,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Guibourtia,coleosperma,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S.Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1652 Rio Rivuma. 1995. Guibourtia coleosperma. On Rivuma Species List, Mozambique, October, 1994. Rio Rivuma, 229 A Street, Boston, MA. Scott, M.H.,1950,Notes on the more Important African Timbers Imported into the Union with,Special Ref. to Port. E.A. Species,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No.19,pp18-62,[South,African Forestry Journal] South African Lumber Millers Assoc.,1969,Notes on some Commercially Available Hardwoods,S.A.L.M.A. Timber Info. Centre Timber Technical Guide,No.1 Storrs, A.E.G.,1979,Know your Trees - Some of the Common Trees found in Zambia,Zambia Forestry Department, Ndola 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 Timber Information Assoc. Ltd.,1947,Notes on East African Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information, No.28 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom. White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London