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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 Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Alstonia congensis Trade Name Emien Family Name Apocynaceae Common Names Adawera, Adawra, Ahun, Alstonia, Awen, Bakunin, Bantang foro, Basong, Binu, Bokuk, Bokuka, Cheese wood, Dita, Dnyame-dua, Dsen-nuru, Duku, Ebo, Ebwe, Ekouk, Emee, Emenle, Emien, Kaiwi, Kanja, Kauwi, Kigima, Koloweli, Kuge, Lomba, Mergalang, Milkwood, Milky pine, Mo cua, Mogoliga, Mogvga, Mujua, Mujwa, Mukoge, Musoga, N'songuti, Nsiwa, Nyamelebaka, Nyemidua, Omujwe, Onguie, Patternwood, Pulai, Senedur, Shaitan wood, Sindru, Stolwood, Stoolwood, Sundra, Tsongoti, Tsongutti, Uguwa, Vhu, White cheesewood, Wokuka, Yung Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Baskets, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical derivatives, Chests, Core Stock, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Food containers, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, General carpentry, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matchboxes, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Musical instruments: strings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes, Woodwork Environmental Profile Endangered Abundant/Secure Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions. Endangered in Benin. Inadequate info in Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria Distribution Overview Widely distributed throughout West and Central Africa; abundant in humid forests of the Cameroons. Heartwood Color White Yellow Orange Brown Red Green/grey Yellow to golden-yellow to orange White to cream Pale brown Yellowish white Greenish to greyish Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Color not distinct from heartwood White to yellow Grain Straight Closed Even Wavy Interlocked Generally straight, but not always Wavy Interlocked Texture Fine Medium Fine to medium Fine Medium Luster Low Medium Lustrous Low Dull Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Non-resistant to marine borers Perishable Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Vulnerable to attack by powder-post beetles Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Uk=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7 T10 - D4S (4/4); T8 - D3S (8/4) US Schedule H; United Kingdom Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying Defects Checking Distortion Splitting Slight surface checking Slight end splitting Slight twist/warp No twisting or warping No surface checking Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Little degrade Easy Little degrade if dried properly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is misshapen Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Latex Content - Large slit-like radial canals, which are usually found at intervals of 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) and which may adversely affect the appearance of the wood usually contain traces of latex. Latex is reported to remain in liquid form for long periods of time and may even be detected in sawing wood that was processed years ago. Blunting Effect Little Moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is mild Blunting effect on machining is slight There is some significant blunting effect on cutting tools Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Moderately easy Carving Very Good to Excellent Results Very good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting edges are dulled rapidly Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Glues well Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes satisfactorily Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Stable Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to nail Satisfactory nailing properties Pre-boring recommended Holds satisfactorily Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to plane Sharp surfaces are required Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Easy to screw Screwing yields satisfactory results Recommend pre-boring Possible if prebored Good screw holding properties Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Unsuitable Poor Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Finish is generally satisfactory Finish is generally good Stains well Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = very low Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 15-22 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium