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. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Julbernardia globiflora Trade Name Mchenga Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Pseudoberlinia globiflora, Isoberlinia globiflora Common Names Mchenga, Mgombo, Mpanate, Msima, Muba, Muimbi, Munondo, Musima, Muwa Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Vulnerable Abundant/Secure Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Purple Black Reddish brown Pale brown Sapwood Color White Red Brown Green/Grey Yellow White to yellow Well defined Pinkish Different than heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Stripe (figure) Weak (figure) Interlocked Weak figure Striped figure Texture Medium Coarse Fine Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Medium Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Resistant to termites Durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Moderately durable Perishable Non-durable Resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Resistant to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log Pinworm (ambrosia beetle) often present in the heartwood Odor Has an odor Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow Drying Defects Distortion Splitting Checking Moderate surface checking Severe twisting/warping Moderate end spitting Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Moderate twist/warp Moderate spring/bow Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is severe Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Difficult Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Surface Preparation Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Carefully Controlled Conditions Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to mortise Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to mould Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Medium Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Possible if prebored Holds nails well Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Poor results Steam Bending Moderate Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 61 - 67 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Max. crushing strength = medium Toughness (total work) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = very hard Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 11443 17761 psi Density 55 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2305 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6302 9236 psi Shearing Strength 2284 psi Stiffness 1944 2240 1000 psi Toughness 250 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 9 12 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 54 44 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Me