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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 Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Lophira alata Trade Name Ekki Family Name Ochnaceae Common Names A koura, Aba, African oak, Akoga, Akogka, Akogo, Akpakpla, Asore, Azobe, Bakundu, Bankile, Belengbe, Bokoka, Bongossi, Bonkole, Eba, Ebba, Ekki, Eleba, Endui, Endwi, Enwan, Esire, Esore, Faboy, Gue, Hendui, Ipawhaw, Ironpost, K'deng, Kaku, Kekrefunde, Kokank, Kotublassu, Kunu, Kyere, Kyirafunti, Kyirebente, Lihos, Liku, Malah, Meni oil tree, N'goule, Namijin-kadai, Ngohou ibenga, Ngokele, Nokue, Okikopom, Okoa, Okoga, Okoka, Okut, Oteng, Otugba, Ozobe, Parapara, Plu, Pone, Prenkebi, Red ironwood, Red oak, Umawerek, Umpenek, Yasua Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Charcoal, Crossties, Decks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Piling, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Tables, Truck bodies, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Ekki is secure within its natural growth range in the Ivory Coast and the Congo, but it is officially classified as Vulnerable in Cameroon. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zaire Distribution Overview Azobé is found in Cameroon, the Congo Basin, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zaire. It grows in evergreen and moist deciduous forests, in freshwater swamp forests and close to river banks. Although this species has a definite preference for wet evergreen areas, it is assumed to be sensitive to non-evergreen forest soils and is unsuccessful on rocky soils. L. alata is a pioneer species and is representative of a disturbed forest. It is also sensitive to drought Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Green/grey Orange Dark brown Reddish brown Purple Brown Dark brown Red The heartwood is dark red or deep chocolate brown, sometimes with purple highlights Sapwood Color White Yellow Pinkish Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Paler than heartwood Pale pink Grain Interlocked Even Figure Straight Mottle Interlocked Straight Mottled or streaked figure sometimes The interlocked grain yields a ribbon figure on radial surfaces. Conspicuous white deposits in pores, give tangential surfaces a speckled appearance Texture Medium Coarse Uneven Medium Luster Medium Dull Low Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Yellowish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Durable Perishable Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Non-resistant to marine borers Very durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present The heartwood is very resistant to decay. It is moderately resistant to termite attack in West Africa, and resistant to teredo attack. Ekki has very good weathering characteristics, and is also resistant to acids Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow Drying Defects Severe end splitting Severe surface checking Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Distortion (twist/warp) is likely The wood is extremely refractory. It is suggested that the wood be piled very carefully. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Difficult Dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Naturally dries quickly Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 20-30 m The tree is reported to reach heights of 160 feet (49 m), with trunk diameters of 60 inches (150 cm) or more. Boles are unbuttressed but may have a swollen base, they are straight, clear and sometimes reach 100 feet (30 m) in length Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber for export. Although the population of the species is relatively secure, supplies of Ekki in the lumber form are limited, especially on the N. American market. The material is easier to obtain in Europe in the form of flooring, vats and other containers for liquids. Substitutes Piquia (Caryocar villosum) and Okan (Cylicodiscus gabunensis) are good substitutes. Ekki is much heavier than North American white oak (Quercus alba) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Uses for Ekki are rather limited because it is very difficult to machine Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is severe Blunting effect on machining is variable Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Edges must be kept sharp. (Sharpness angle 40-45 degrees obtained by reducing the cutting angle, clearance angle, or both) Boring Difficult The wood tends to char during boring. Timber should be held firmly during boring operations to prevent chatter Carving Heartwood is very difficult to treat Blunting effect on cutting edges is often severe Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Narrow bandsawing is rated as satisfactory. The woods saws comparatively well, considering its hardness and high density. Timber should be held firmly to prevent chatter. Gluing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Gluing properties are variable but are generally rated as satisfactory Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to mortise Material is very hard Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Moulding properties are poor Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Large The timber has very poor stability, and tends to change dimension considerably in response to changes in atmospheric conditions Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to nail Pre-boring recommended Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Planes to a satisfactory finish A strong cutting edge together with a reduction in the clearance and/or cutting angle is required in planing Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Difficult to machine Easy to machine Severe blunting effect on cutters Moderate working qualities Heartwood is very difficult to treat Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is difficult Recessing is difficult The timber is very hard. Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Easy to sand The wood is reported to dress to a smooth finish Screwing Pre-boring recommended Requires pre-boring before screwing. Difficult to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy The coarse wood is very difficult to use in turnery work, and tools are dulled rather rapidly Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Very poor Painting Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Finish is generally satisfactory Satisfactory staining properties Finish is generally good Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 61 - 67 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Max. crushing strength = very high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Tangential = large Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Max. crushing strength = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Density (dry weight) = 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = > 75 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = medium Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = small