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Blunting Effect
Boring
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
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Silica Content
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Mitragyna ciliata

Trade Name
Abura

Family Name
Rubiaceae

Synonyms
Mitragyna ciliata, Hallea ciliata


Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Abura, Agofa, Andinding, Andiniding, Atchiupon, Bahia, Bakia, Baya, Beya, Bodo, Bourafete, Camaroncillo, Eben, Elelom, Elelom n'zame, Elelome n'zame, Elelon, Elolom, Enoupou, Epoukou, False opepe, Louambo, M'boy, M'po, M'voukou, M'vuku masa, Malamba, Maluku, Maza, Moukonia, Mujiura, Mushiwa, N'toval, N'towo, Nzingu, Obo, Ohombe, Oro, Ossoupou, Poplar, Popo, Propro, Sofoa, Soufo, Sozo, Subaha, Suhaba, Sukaba, Tobou, Uburu, Uwen, Vuku

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zaire, Zambia

Common Uses
Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hardboards, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Mine timbers, Model airplanes, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Musical instruments: piano, Oars, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Pencil, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes, Woodwork

Environmental Profile
Status unknown in parts of its range
Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions.
Endangered within parts of its range
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center

Endangered in Benin and Vulnerable in Ivory Coast and Liberia. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zaire

Distribution Overview
The species occurs primarily in West and Central Africa, from Sierra Leone to the Congo region and Angola. It is described as gregarious and is usually found in freshwater swamps

Heartwood Color
Purple
Red
Brown
Pale brown
Pale red to pink
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Reddish brown
Greenish to greyish
Brown
Red


Sapwood Color
White to yellow
Same as heartwood
Light brown to pink brown
Gum veins appear as dark streaks
Color not distinct from heartwood


Grain
Straight
Interlocked
Figure
Distinct (figure)
Crossed
Even
Weak (figure)

Straight
Interlocked
Distinct figure
Weak figure
Moderately straight to interlocked


Texture
Medium
Fine
Very even
Medium
Fine to medium


Luster
Medium
Dull
Low


Natural Growth Defects
Spongy heart may be present.

Use care if heartwood is spongy

Natural Durability
Durable
Moderately durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Resistant to termites
Resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Perishable
Susceptible to marine borer attack
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree
Moderately durable
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Susceptible to termite attack
Susceptible to pinhole borers
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log
Moderately susceptible to teredo worms
Heartwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Durable
Contains alkaloids giving it good acid resistance


Odor
Unpleasant odor
No taste


Silica Content
Likely to have significant impact on machining
Contains significant silica (up to .25% of dry weight)


Toxicity
Dermatitic effects
Respiratory effects
Unspecified toxicity


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid
T13 - C45 (4/4) US
T11 - D35 (8/4) US
Schedule K; United Kingdom


Drying Defects
Slight end splitting
Slight twist/warp
No twisting or warping
No end splitting
Moderate end spitting


Ease of Drying
Easy
Shakes must be removed during conversion
Dries rapidly with little degrade


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 straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is buttressed


Tree Size
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 40-50 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Bole length is 10-20 m
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on machining is variable
Slight to severe depending upon silica content
Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate
Blunting effect on machining is moderate
Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe


Boring
Easy


Cutting Resistance
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Requires sharp cutters


Gluing
Easy to glue
Glues well


Mortising
Easy to mortise


Moulding
Easy to mould


Movement in Service
Small
Stable


Nailing
Easy to nail
Holds nails well
Possible if prebored
Accepts thin nails well


Planing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Easy to plane

The material works easily in planing, turning, moulding, mortising, boring, and routing. It responds rather well to both hand and machine tools, but they should be kept very sharp for best results since the timber is siliceous.

Resistance to Impregnation
Heartwood is moderately resistant
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is permeable


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Easy to machine
Variable qualities
Good response
Cutting edges become dull very quickly


Sanding
Good sanding finish


Screwing
Screwing yields good results
Good screwing properties


Turning
Easy to turn
Good results


Veneering Qualities
Good gluing qualities
Easy to cut
Bolt preparation requires steaming


Steam Bending
Very poor
Poor


Painting
Good results


Polishing
Good results
Satisfactory results


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory
Finish is generally good


Varnishing
Good results


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = large
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Max. crushing strength = low
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Work to Maximum Load = very low
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Weight = medium
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impace Strength) = medium
Toughness (total work) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Resists denting and marring
Max. crushing strength = high
Hardness (side grain) = medium
Density = high
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = very low


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength728710758psi
Density33lbs/ft3
Hardness817lbs
Impact Strength32inches
Maximum Crushing Strength37405982psi
Shearing Strength1767psi
Stiffness110813401000 psi
Toughness106inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load57inch-lbs/in3
Specific Gravity0.410.52
Weight3325lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage9%
Volumetric Shrinkage12%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength512756kg/cm2
Density528kg/m3
Hardness370kg
Impact Strength81cm
Maximum Crushing Strength262420kg/cm2
Shearing Strength124kg/cm2
Stiffness77941000 kg/cm2
Toughness122cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.350.49cm-kg/cm3
Specific Gravity0.410.52
Weight528400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage9%

References
Arkwright, P.,1955,Know your Timbers No.15 Abura,Woodworking Industry,12(3, p177

Bertin, A., Meniaud, J.,1949,Timbers of the Cameroons,Compagnie Francais du Cameroon,(Transl. by F.Jane)

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1948,Bahia (Mitragyne ciliata,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.5,pp37-40

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1949,Bubinga (Guiboutia spp,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.12,pp429-432

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1976,Bahia (Mitragyna ciliata,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No165,pp21-34

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

Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods - Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Dahms, K.G.,1968,Afrikanische Exportholzer,D.R.W Verlags Stuttgart

Edlin, H.L.,1969,What wood is that? A Manual of Wood Identification,Jarrold and Sons Ltd. Norwich

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

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1968,Report on a Consignment of Heglig (Balanites aegyptiaca) from the Republic,of the Sudan,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Reports on,Overseas Timber, No.9

Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment

France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France

France - C.T.F.T.,1961,Resultats des Observations et des Essais effectues au CTFT sur Abura,C.T.F.T. Information technique,No.109

France - C.T.F.T.,1977,Promotion of African Timbers - New Species,CTFT,35 Leaflets

France - C.T.F.T.,Promotion of Ivory Coast Timbers. New Series (Leaflets,C.T.F.T.

France - C.T.F.T.,Recuil de Fiches Techniques,C.T.F.T.

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

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London

Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan

Kloot, N.H., Bolza, E.,1961,Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia,C.S.I.R.O. Forest Products Division Technological Paper,No.12

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

Menon, K.D.,1958,Susceptibility of Commercial Species of Malayan Timbers to Powder-post,Beetle,Attack,Malayan Forest Service Trade Leaflet,no.27

Okigbo, L., Von Wendorff, G.,1964,Some Nigerian Woods (2nd Edition,Federal Ministry of Information Lagos

Osain, E.J.,1973,An autecological study of Mitragyna ciliata,Obeche,No. 8/9, pp19-36

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

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

Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T.

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

Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons

Thomas, A.V.,1964,Timbers Used in the Boat Building Industry A Survey,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,Laboratory

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

Voorhoeve, A.G.,1965,Liberian High Forest Trees,Centre for Agric. Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen

Woods, R.P.,1949,Timbers of South America,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13









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