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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Homalium letestui Trade Name Abo-ako Family Name Flacourtiaceae Synonyms Homalium dolichophyllum Common Names Abo-ako, Akporo, Akpurukwe, Basa bro-kpar, Di iroa, Ekalado, Eson-kruma, Esono-nankoroma, Esononankoroma, Homalium, Kalado, Koli-galei, Melefoufou, Miarire, Mmepomdua, Nyegalei, Otu, Roko bachi, Teinpiando Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Gabon, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Poles, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Brown Black Sapwood Color Red Brown Grain Even Interlocked Straight Straight Interlocked Texture Medium Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Natural Durability Resistant to termites Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Moderately durable Durable Drying Defects Checking Distortion Ease of Drying Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Little degrade Difficult Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is severe Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Gum-Up Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to sand Screwing Pre-boring recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13576 20956 psi Density 51 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1658 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Shearing Strength 1560 psi Stiffness 2167 2494 1000 psi Weight 50 40 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 954 1473 kg/cm2 Density 817 kg/m3 Hardness 752 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 109 kg/cm2 Stiffness 152 175 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 801 641 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % 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 Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies 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 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Savill, P.S., Fox, J.E.D.,1967,Trees of Sierra Leone 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