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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
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
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
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Irvingia gabonensis

Trade Name
Oba

Family Name
Simaroubaceae

Synonyms
Irvingia teniufolia, Irvingia tenuinulata, Mangifera gabonensis

Wood Image 1

Common Names
African mango, Agbons, An-gbere, Andoc, Andok, Andok oba, Belle-tu, Bobo, Boboi, Boborae, Boborau, Boborou, Boboru, Bojep, Bopala, Dibiue mutshi ditoke, Dika, Dika-bread tree, Dika-nut tree, Diuka mahogany, Duika, Etu, Etue, Gbele, Guiba, Keega, Kpeh, Kpele, Mahogany, Manguier sauvage, Mbei, Meba, Mombulu, Mueba, Mukessu, Mutendo, Nsing, Oba, Ogboin, Ogbou, Ogui, Opopa, Oro, Oropa, Udika, Vjiri, Wanini, Wild mango

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Zaire

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Carvings, Chemical derivatives, Construction, Crossties, Domestic flooring, Excelsior, Factory construction, Flooring, Handles, Heavy construction, Joinery, Millwork, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Posts, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Truck bodies, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Woodwork

Environmental Profile

Abundant/Secure

Rare

Status unknown in many of its growth areas

Little threat to its survival, at least in the immediate future

Generally secure within its natural habitat

Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center

Distribution Overview
Western tropical Africa from Senegal to Angola; often found near riverbanks and reaches its optimum in the dense evergreen rain forest. Angola, Congo, C�te.d'ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Uganda, Pr�ncipe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan. Found in the rain forest, but also in forest galleries. It is always found in rather wet soils.

Heartwood Color

White

Yellow

Orange

Brown

Red

Yellow to golden-yellow to orange

Pale brown

Greenish to greyish

Dark brown

Brown

Pale green-brown

Fades with age to grayish brown.
Yellow with red stripes

Sapwood Color

White

Yellow

Red

White to yellow

Paler than heartwood

Well defined

Different than heartwood

Color not distinct from heartwood

The sapwood is yellow with red stripes, and is not always differentiated from the heartwood.

Grain

Interlocked

Straight

Even

Interlocked

Straight

Straight to interlocked

Texture

Medium

Coarse

Fine to medium

Fine

Uneven

Medium

Luster

High

Medium

Dull

Non-lustrous

Natural Durability

Perishable

Susceptible to insect attack

Very durable

Non-durable

Non-resistant to powder post beetles

Non-resistant to termites

Moderately durable

Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)

Durable

Very durable

Susceptible to marine borer attack

Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles

The timber has high resistance to the harmful effects of the weather, which makes it a good candidate for exterior uses.
The wood is immune to termites in Ghana, but minor attacks by termites and marine borers have been reported in Congo.

Odor

No specific smell or taste

Drying Defects

Checking

Distortion

Splitting

Surface checks

No twisting or warping

End checks

It is recommended that felled logs be quartersawn as quickly as possible to minimize or prevent high differential shrinkage which can lead to splitting, end-checking, and surface-checking.

Ease of Drying

Fairly Easy

Rapidly

Reconditioning Treatement

Fairly difficult to penetrate with preservatives

Kiln Drying Rate

Naturally dries quickly

Tree Identification

Bole/stem form is buttressed

Bole/stem form is straight

Bole/stem form is cylindrical

Tree Size

Tree height is 30-40 m

Bole length is 10-20 m

Tree height is 20-30 m

Bole length is 20-30 m

Bole length is 0-10 m

Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm

Tree height is 40-50 m

Sapwood width is 0-5 cm

It develops small buttresses, and boles are usually straight and well-formed. Optimum growing conditions are the dense evergreen rain forests within its range.

Certified Source

Certified Source

Comments
The timber is described as hard, tough, and heavy. The tree yields the dika nut. Its edible fruit is similar to that of mango, and the kernels are a source of edible fats

Blunting Effect

Little

Moderate effect

Boring

Fairly easy to very easy

Poor to very poor results

Carving

Fair to Good Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Cutting Resistance

Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw

Easy to saw

Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult

Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult

Saws slowly and moderately well

Gluing

Fair to Good Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Easy to glue

Mortising

Poor to Very Poor Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Fair to Good Results

Moulding

Poor to Very Poor Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Movement in Service

Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement

Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement

Nailing

Fair to Good Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Poor to Very Poor Results

Very Good to Excellent Results

Requires pre-boring

Difficult to nail

Planing

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Poor to Very Poor Results

Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult

Difficult to plane

Picking up occurs during planing. Very sharp cutting edges together with reduced cutting angles are recommended.

Resistance to Impregnation

Permeable heartwood

Permeable sapwood

The heartwood is reported impossible to penetrate with preservatives, and the sapwood is is difficult to treat.

Response to Hand Tools

Easy to Work

Responds Readily

Easy to machine

Routing & Recessing

Poor to Very Poor Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Sanding

Fair to Good Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Screwing

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Poor to Very Poor Results

Pre-Boring suggested before screwing

Turning

Poor to Very Poor Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Veneering Qualities

Suitable for peeling

Veneers easily

Suitable for slicing

Veneers moderately easy

Polishing

Fair to Good Results

Fairly Easy to Very Easy

Satisfactory results

Strength Properties

Shrinkage, Tangential = large

Shrinkage, Radial = large

Max. crushing strength = high

Density (dry weight) = 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft.

Bending strength (MOR) = very high

Bending strength (MOR) = high

Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high

Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high

Hardness (side grain) = very hard

Density (dry weight) = 61 - 67 lbs/cu. ft.

Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.

Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large

Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high

Hardness (side grain) = hard

Numerical Data

Item	Green	Dry	English

Bending Strength	16504	24498	psi
Density		55	lbs/ft3
Hardness		2784	lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength	7270	10637	psi
Shearing Strength		2985	psi
Stiffness	2390	2761	1000 psi
Toughness		282	inch-lbs
Specific Gravity	0.64	0.76
Weight	54	43	lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage	6		%
Tangential Shrinkage	10		%
Volumetric Shrinkage	18		%

Item	Green	Dry	Metric

Bending Strength	1160	1722	kg/cm2
Density		881	kg/m3
Hardness		1262	kg
Maximum Crushing Strength	511	747	kg/cm2
Shearing Strength		209	kg/cm2
Stiffness	168	194	1000 kg/cm2
Toughness		324	cm-kg
Specific Gravity	0.64	0.76
Weight	865	689	kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage	6		%
Tangential Shrinkage	10		%

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

Chalk, L.,1933,Twenty West African Timber Trees,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 2

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies

Fouarge, J.,1970,Essais Physiques,Mecaniques et de Durabilite de Bois de la Republique,Democratique du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.76

Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun

Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data

Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London

Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos

Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159

Kunkel, G.,1965,The Trees of Liberia,German Forestry Mission to Liberia Report,No.3

Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5

Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim

Saint-Aubin, G. de,1963,La Foret du Gabon,CTFT Publ., No.21

Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T

Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,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

Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

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