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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 Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Khaya senegalensis Trade Name African mahogany Family Name Meliaceae Common Names Abudu ono, Acajou cail cedrat, Acajou du Senegal, African mahogany, Agwanwo, Akuk, Alor, Bandora, Bandoro, Bele, Benin mahogany, Bisselon, Bissilongo, Bisslongo, Bitehi, Bogu, Cail cedrat, Cailcedrat, Delehi, Diala iri, Diala-iri, Dry zone mahogany, Eri, Eri Kiree, Frimu, Gadeau, Guinea mahogany, Ha, Haemu, Homraya, Jalio, Kagam, Kahi, Kaye, Khaya, Khaya mahogany, Khaya wood, Kheiri, Kierr, Kirai, Kiree, Koka, Koko, Korobaa, Kuga, Kuka, Kuntunkuri, Logo, Loko, Madachi, Madwachi, Mario, Murraya, Oganwo, Ogwango, Okpe, Ono, Senegal mahogany, Senga mahogany, Tido, Tiro, Tit Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda Common Uses Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Fixtures, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Musical instruments: percussion, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tables, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Vulnerable Little threat to its survival, at least in the immediate future Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Classified as Vulnerable in Benin and Uganda. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Togo, and Burkina Faso Distribution Overview Native distribution in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda. Also now found in Australia, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa and Vietnam. Khaya senegalensis occurs in riverine forests and is scattered within the higher-rainfall savannah woodlands. In moister areas, K. senegalensis is found on uplands, but it is restricted to riparian habitats or stream bottoms that extend into the savannah in the drier portions of the range. During the 1st year, the seedling develops a strong, deep taproot, which makes it the most drought hardy of all the Khaya species. It is also very resistant to flooding and can be considered for planting on swampy soils. Moderately shade tolerant. Except where selectively removed by logging, dry-zone mahogany remains a dominant species in most of its range. Successful plantations of dry-zone mahogany in other parts of the world have generally been in areas with short dry seasons and high rainfall. Heartwood Color Brown Grey Green/grey Reddish brown Pale red to pink Brown Turn reddish brown upon exposure Purplish tinge Pink-Brown Pale brown Dark brown Sapwood Color Brown White Paler than heartwood White to yellow Well defined Color not distinct from heartwood Slightly lighter version of the pink brown heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Even Straight Roey (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Straight Striped figure Roey figure Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Medium coarse to coarse Coarse Medium Fine Fine to medium Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately durable Durable Non durable Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack The heartwood has moderate durability and is very resistant to attack by termites. The tree is vulnerable to attack by longhorn and other beetles. Odor Tasteless Mild odor, when worked Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a slow speed Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Moderate twist/warp Moderate end spitting Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Drying degrade is little but tension wood, if present, may cause splitting and warping. Ease of Drying Medium to High Shrinkage Fairly Easy Reconditioning Treatement Rapidly Easy Seasons rapidly with little degrade Radial - 2.5% Shrinkage from green to 12% MC Tangential - 4.5% Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm The bole is less well-formed than other African mahoganies. Product Sources Timber produced by this species is often mixed and marketed with those from other African mahogany species. Supplies are are plentiful in lumber form, and the material is available in a wide variety of sizes at moderate prices. African mahogany is also readily available in plywood form from many lumber suppliers. Substitutes Crabwood (Carapa guianensis) is similar in appearance and is nearly as tough. Sapele (Entandrophragma cylindricum) has superiod strength properties. African canarium (Canarium schweinfurthii) is extremely similar in appearance once it is stained. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Mineral Deposits The timber is described as a heavier African mahogany, and has more similarities to Khaya grandifoliola than to K. ivorensis or K. anthotheca . Some timber from K. senegalensis is of excellent quality and is especially suitable for applications where mahogany of firm texture and a natural dark reddish-brown color is required. The wood is reported to often contain crystal deposits. Blunting Effect Moderate Medium effect Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fair to good results Fairly difficult to very difficult Responds well to very sharp boring tools Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Responds well to carving if tools are kept very sharp Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Sharp tools are recommended since the wood is sometimes woolly Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue May require surface treatment for best results Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good mortising properties Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Requires very sharp cutting edges Movement in Service Small Shows only small movement after manufacture Dimensionally stable after seasoning Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Good nailing properties Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Fairly easy to work Difficult to plane Its working properties are less desirable than those of K. ivorensis which is the primary source of African mahogany timber on the market. Quartersawn material requires reduced cutting angles, and sharp tools are essential for smooth, clean surfaces since the wood tends be woolly. Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is highly resistant Softwood is fairly resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Cutting edges of hand tools should be kept very sharp for best results Routing & Recessing Routing is easy Cutters should be kept sharp Sanding Easy to sand Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to screw Good screwing properties Turning Easy to turn Good results Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finish is generally good Varnishing Takes varnish well Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Hardness (side grain) = medium Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Density (dry weight) = 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft. Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Hardness (side grain) = hard Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9320 14364 psi Density 46 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1495 lbs Impact Strength 32 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 4614 7534 psi Shearing Strength 1967 psi Stiffness 1311 1529 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.56 0.63 Weight 47 36 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 5 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 655 1009 kg/cm2 Density 737 kg/m3 Hardness 678 kg Impact Strength 81 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 324 529 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 138 kg/cm2 Stiffness 92 107 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.56