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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 Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Plantation species? Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Maesopsis eminii Trade Name Musizi Family Name Rhamnaceae Synonyms Maesopsis berchemioides Common Names Aweru, Bo-ay-wreh, Bu-ay-wreh, Dzotrubo, Esenge, Essenge, Igilogbon, Maesopsis, Manasati, Masira, Mbarika, Muguruka, Muhongera, Muhumula, Muhunya, Musira, Musizi, Mutere, Ndunga, Nkangvele, Nsira, Omuhumula, Omuside, Onwa Plantation species? Yes Regions of Distribution Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Fiji [Polynesia], Gabon, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia Common Uses Balusters, Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species is very secure with very little threat to its survival in the immediate future in most areas in its range, including Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Uganda. Its status is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Angola, Bioko, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Zaire Distribution Overview Natural occurrence in a band across Africa from Kenya to Liberia between 8°N and 6°S where it is mainly found on the fringes of high forests in the ecozone between rainforest and savannah. It is an early successional species, adept at colonising dis- turbed areas in forests. Introduced to Southeast Asia and Central America. Within the area of natural distribution it is found in the lowlands and extending into submontane forest up to 1800 m altitude. In plantations it is normally planted in the lowland and grows best at altitudes from 600 to 900 m. Prefers mean annual rainfall of 1200-3600 mm and tolerates a dry season of up to 4 months. Prefers deep, well-drained soils but can grow on light soils if there is sufficient water. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Greenish to greyish Pale brown Brown Dark brown Reddish brown The heartwood is initially bright yellow-green or green-brown in color. It matures into a pale golden brown or dark brown upon exposure. Pin knots may be present, and larger knots are abundant near the core Sapwood Color Brown White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Whitish Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Wavy Even Closed Straight Rippled (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Wavy Striped figure Straight Rippled figure The grain is typically interlocked, producing a ribbon figure on backsawn material. Texture Medium Resinous and oily Medium Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Even textured Luster Lustrous Pronounced The wood has a satin-like luster Natural Durability Durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Susceptible to marine borer attack The heartwood has very low resistance to decay and is readily attacked by termites, marine borers, and decay fungi. Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Dry at a moderate speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Drying Defects Severe end splitting No surface checking No end splitting Moderate twist/warp Slight twist/warp Slight end splitting Slight collapse and honeycomb Slight cupping No twisting or warping Moderate cupping Moderate collapse and honeycombing End splitting Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Easy Radial - 2.5% Shrinkage from Green to 12% MC Tangential - 4.0% The timber dries fairly rapidly and very well. Kiln Drying Rate Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 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 Tree height is 10-20 m It develops short and blunt buttresses or root canals, and boles are usually straight and free of branches to about 60 feet (18 m). The size of the tree is reported to decrease from east to west across the range of the species. Trees growing in Nigeria are reported to to be rather small in size, and rarely reach a height of 50 feet (15 m) Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory The tree is liable to split during felling and in storage. The bark of the tree is used as a roofing material in the Congo region Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly easy to very easy Difficult Easy Woolly surfaces are common. It is recommended that the timber be supported during boring to prevent chipping out at tool exits. Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy The material responds well to hand tools Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy The material saws rather easily Gluing Easy to glue Good gluing propeties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Support material during mortising to prevent chipping out at the tool exit Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Small Medium Seasoned timber is dimensionally stable, and retains its shape well after manufacture Nailing Easy to nail Holds satisfactorily Good nailing properties Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Difficult to plane Planes to a satisfactory finish The timber is reported to plane to a smooth finish, but a cutting angle of 20 degrees is recommended in working quartersawn material to prevent grain from tearing Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant More even absorption is obtained with waterborne preservatives than with creosote, and an extended pressure treatment has been suggested Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing is difficult Care is required in recessing to prevent torn grain and woolly finish Sanding The wood sands to yield a smooth finish Screwing Good screwing properties Good screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor results Difficult to turn Good results Easy to turn Steam Bending Very poor Poor The material may buckle severely and the fiber may also rupture, even at small curvatures Painting The material is exceptionally difficult to paint, due to its absorbent nature and open texture Polishing Satisfactory results Poor results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Varnishing Satisfactory Good results Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Tangential = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Work to Maximum Load = very low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Max. crushing strength = low Toughness (total work) = very low Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6538 10091 psi Density 29 lbs/ft3 Hardness 640 lbs Impact Strength 26 23 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3399 5763 psi Shearing Strength 1259 psi Stiffness 1136 1322 1000 psi Toughness 95 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 7 8 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.37 Weight 28 26 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 459 709 kg/cm2 Density 464 kg/m3 Hardness 290 kg Impact Strength 65 58 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 238 405 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 88 kg/cm2 Stiffness 79 92 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 109 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.49 0.56 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.37 Weight 448 416 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Alston, A.S.,1982,Timbers of Fiji: Properties and potential uses,Fiji Forestry Department, Suva Ananthanarayana, A.K., Kumar, P. and Sharma, S.N.,1986,Possibilities of utilization of some exotic species from plantations for,timber products,Van Vigyan Vol.24, Nos. 1 & 2, 21-24 Ananthanrayana, A.K. and Jain, J.C.,1982,A Note on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Maesopsis eminii Engl.,(Musizi,Indian Forester 108:12, 741-746 Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35 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 Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods - Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Brenan, J.P.M., Greenway, P.J.,1949,Check-lists of the Forest Trees and Shrubs of the British Empire,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford No.5 Tanganyika Territories Part 2 Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World No.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Eggeling, W.J., Harris, C.M.,1939,Fifteen Uganda Timbers,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire, Imperial Forestry,Institute, Oxford,Part 4 Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Fiji Forestry Department,1981,The Properties and Uses of 43 Indigenous and Exotic Timbers,Fiji Forestry Department, Fiji Timbers and their Uses No.71 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1967,The Steam Bending Properties of various timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet,No.45 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38 Fortin, Y., Poliquin, J.,1976,Natural Durability and Preservation of 100 Tropical African Woods,International Development Research Centre, Canada France - C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT Grant, D.K.S.,1934,Some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Department HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R. H. Farmer. 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Gent Belguim Poynton, R.J.,1957,Notes on Exotic Forest Trees in South Africa (Second Edition, Revised,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.38 Redding, L.W.,1958,The Resistance of Various Timbers to Impregnation,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Scientific and Industrial Research Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30 Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1956,Survey of African woods 1,Tropical Woods,115(105,pp 13-38 Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1959,Survey of Africa Woods 4,Tropical Woods 17(110) pp42-115 Storrs, A.E.G.,1979,Know your Trees - Some of the Common Trees found in Zambia,Zambia Forestry Department, Ndola Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda 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 Tanzania Forest Division,1963,Maesopsis eminii (Musizi,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Timber Information Assoc. Ltd.,1947,Notes on East African Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information, No.28 Uganda Forest Department,1954,Musizi (Maesopsis eminii,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.11 Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1 Uganda Forest Department,1969,The Shrinkage of Some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.47 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom. White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya