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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
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
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
Strength Properties
Substitutes
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities
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Common Names
Anong, Awong, Awoung, Bokonge, Bwengu, Dikela, Kiboto, Mboto, Mibotu, Monkonge, Mukonde mutshi, Mundambi, N'gondou, N'toka, N'toko, Nson-so, Nsou-so, Otogo, Palissandre du congo, Pallissandre, Tshikalakala, Wenge, Zai-wenge
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution
[VIEW MAP]
Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zaire
Common Uses
Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mine timbers, Musical instruments , Office furniture, Organ pipes, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piano keys, Pianos , Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative
Environmental Profile
| Status unknown in parts of its range |
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| Secure in many areas of its range |
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| Little or no threat to its population |
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| Extinct, Endangered, Rare, or Vulnerable within some parts of its original range. |
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| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
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Distribution Overview
The natural growth range of the species is the open forests of Zaire, Cameroon, Gabon, the southern regions of Tanzania, and Mozambique. It is also found in the swampy forests of the Congo region.
Heartwood Color
| Yellow |
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| White |
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| Red |
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| Green/grey |
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| Brown |
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| Orange |
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| Pink |
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| Dark brown |
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| Color variation is moderate |
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| Black |
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| Alternating bands of light and dark tissue |
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Sapwood Color
| Red |
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| Yellow |
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| White |
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| White to yellow |
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| Well defined |
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Grain
| Straight |
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| Figure |
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| Even |
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| Distinct (figure) |
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| Interlocked |
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| Straight |
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| Distinct figure |
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| Straight to roey |
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| Interlocked |
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The appearance of the wood has been described as expressive
Texture
| Fine |
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| Even or uniform |
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| Uniform |
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| Coarse |
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| Medium |
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| Medium coarse to coarse |
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| Fine |
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Luster
Natural Growth Defects
| Brittleheart is sometimes present |
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| Bore holes occasionally |
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Bore holes tend to reduce the volume of quality material from logs
Natural Durability
| Moderately durable |
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| Durable |
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| Perishable |
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| Non-durable |
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| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) |
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| Very durable |
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| Durable |
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| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
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| Non durable |
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| Heartwood resistant to decay |
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| Heartwood resistant ot marine borers and termites |
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| Good weathering properties |
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Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
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Toxicity
| Dermatitic effects |
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| Respiratory effects |
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| Poisonous |
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Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed |
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| UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 |
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| T6 - D2 (4/4) US |
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| T3 - D1 (8/4) US |
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Drying Defects
| Checking |
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| Slight end splitting |
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| Severe surface checking |
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| Distortion (twist/warp) is likely |
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Ease of Drying
| Thick Stock Requires Care |
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| Reconditioning Treatement |
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| Requires special attention |
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| Difficult |
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| Dries slowly with severe degrade in uncontrolled conditions |
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Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
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| Bole/stem form is misshapen |
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| Bole/stem form is cylindrical |
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Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m |
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| Tree height is 10-20 m |
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| Bole length is 0-10 m |
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Product Sources
The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced regularly but it is exported only in low volumes.
Wenge is always in limited supply on the US market. Some reasons for this are low yield from logs because of high waste from mulot or heavy worm infestation, supply problems from sources in Africa, and less demand on the market for darker colored woods. The wood is used almost exclusively for architectural purposes such as paneling and furniture pieces. Suppliers are reported to to be offering Wenge more frequently in recent years. Prices are often in the high range.
Substitutes
Wacapou (Vouacapoua americana), Aramatta (Diplotropis purpurea) and Pao rosa (Swartzia fistuloides)
Comments
Exposure lightens color of wood
General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory
Lumber is occasionally left in the sun on purpose to lighten the color (sometimes requested by importers of Wenge)
Blunting Effect
| Blunting effect on machining is slight |
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| Medium effect |
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| Blunting effect on machining is moderate |
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| Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe |
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Boring
| Fairly difficult to very difficult |
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| Easy |
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Carving
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw |
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| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy |
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| Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult |
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| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
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| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult |
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| Cleanly but slowly |
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Gluing
| Difficult to glue |
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| Easy to glue |
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Mortising
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Easy to mortise |
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Moulding
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Easy to mould |
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Movement in Service
There are reports of significant movement in use in actual installations.
Nailing
| Difficult to nail |
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| Possible if prebored |
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| Holds nails well |
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Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Easy to plane |
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The timber is fairly easy to work with machine tools.
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood |
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| Permeable heartwood |
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| Permeable sapwood |
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| Resistant sapwood |
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| Heartwood is extremely resistant |
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| Sapwood is permeable |
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Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work |
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| Easy to machine |
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| Difficult to machine |
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| Good response |
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Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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Sanding
Turning
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
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| Easy to turn |
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| Poor results |
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| Good results |
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| Good results |
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Veneering Qualities
| Too heavy for plywood manufacture |
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| Diifficult to veneer |
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Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
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| Fair to Good Results |
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| Poor results |
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| Satisfactory results |
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| Requires a filler |
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| Rather difficult to polish |
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Varnishing
| Weathering properties are very poor |
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| Solvent-Based stains may dry with difficulty |
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Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = very high |
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| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. |
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| Max. crushing strength = high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high |
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| Max. crushing strength = very high |
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| Hardness (side grain) = very hard |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = large |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = large |
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| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high |
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| Bending strength (MOR) = medium |
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| Weight = very high |
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| Strength properties vary with density |
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| Shrinkage, Tangential = small |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = small |
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| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large |
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| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium |
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| Hardness (side grain) = medium |
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| Hardness (side grain) = hard |
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| Density = very high |
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| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very high |
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Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| | | |
| Bending Strength | 14684 | 22019 | psi |
| Density | | 54 | lbs/ft3 |
| Hardness | | 2235 | lbs |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 7355 | 11021 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | | 2840 | psi |
| Stiffness | 2071 | 2379 | 1000 psi |
| Specific Gravity | 0.65 | 0.83 | |
| Weight | 57 | 55 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | | % |
| | | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| | | |
| Bending Strength | 1032 | 1548 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | | 865 | kg/m3 |
| Hardness | | 1013 | kg |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 517 | 774 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | | 199 | kg/cm2 |
| Stiffness | 145 | 167 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.65 | 0.83 | |
| Weight | 913 | 881 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % |
References
Bois et Forets des Tropiquies,1952,Wenge,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.25 pp.329-332
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
Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.
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
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
France - C.T.F.T.,1966,Bois Tropicaux,C.T.F.T. Publ.,12
HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data
ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France.
Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series
Kaiser, J. 1990. Wenge:The Dark, Exotic Wood from Africa. Wood of the Month Annual, Supplement to Wood and Wood Products, September 1990, Page 24A.
Kline, M. 1979. Millettia laurentii - Wenge. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portlend, Maine. 1994. Page 238.
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
Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.
NWFA. 1994. Wood Species Used in Wood Flooring. Technical Publication No. A200. National Wood Flooring Association, Manchester, MO.
Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim
Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London
Revue des Bois et de ses Applications,1957,Wenge (Millettia laurentii,Revue des Bois et de ses Applications,No12(5, p35
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.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23
Scott, M.H.,1950,Notes on the more Important African Timbers Imported into the Union with,Special Ref. to Port. E.A. Species,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No.19,pp18-62,[South,African Forestry Journal]
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
Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13
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