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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Silica Content Steam Bending Texture Trade Name Tree Size Scientific Name Homalium dolicophyllum Trade Name African homalium Family Name Flacourtiaceae Common Names African homalium, Bro-kpah, Melefoufou Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia Common Uses Barge fenders, Boat building, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Canoes, Construction, Crossties, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Flooring, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Lifeboats, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Naval architecture, Parquet flooring, Poles, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sub-flooring, Utility poles, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Likely distributed mainly in the dense rain forests in tropical West Africa from Guinea to Gabon. Heartwood Color Yellow Red Purple Brown Orange Yellowish white Contains dark streaks Sapwood Color Red Yellow Same as heartwood Grain Even Straight Interlocked Texture Fine Fine Luster Dull Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to marine borer attack Moderately durable Good weathering properties Odor No specific smell or taste Silica Content Contains silica Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Blunting Effect Severe Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Planing Requires hardened cutters Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Sanding Good sanding qualities Steam Bending Good Polishing Satisfactory results Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 17591 psi Density 53 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2009 lbs Impact Strength 32 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 9209 psi Shearing Strength 2509 psi Stiffness 2419 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 18 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.5 0.63 Radial Shrinkage 7 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 17 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1236 kg/cm2 Density 849 kg/m3 Hardness 911 kg Impact Strength 81 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 647 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 176 kg/cm2 Stiffness 170 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 1.26 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.5 0.63 Radial Shrinkage 7 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.