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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. Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing 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 Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Morus lactea Trade Name Aye Family Name Moraceae Synonyms Celtis lactea Common Names Aye, Difou, East African mulberry, Kankate, Kivulevule, Manuku, Mecodze, Mekobze, Mukimbu, Mukoge, Nyakatoma, Turoro, Uganda mulberry, Wonton Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Kenya, Mozambique, Uganda Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Brown Sapwood Color Brown Red White White to yellow Well defined Grain Straight Figure Interlocked Even Distinct (figure) Straight Interlocked Distinct figure Texture Medium Even or uniform Uniform Fine Fine to medium Medium Natural Durability Durable Non-resistant to termites Durable Non durable Perishable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Kiln Schedules UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Checking Collapse Slight end splitting Ease of Drying Requires special attention Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Stable Nailing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Easy to screw Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Steam Bending Very good Moderate Good Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = very hard Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 46 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2940 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Shearing Strength 2847 psi Stiffness 1358 1568 1000 psi Weight 45 36 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 737 kg/m3 Hardness 1333 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 200 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 110 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 721 576 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % References Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa. 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 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 Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1967,The Steam Bending Properties of various timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet,No.45 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 Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA] Uganda Forest Department,1969,The Shrinkage of Some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.47 White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London Wigg, L.T.,1946,Durability of some East African Timbers,East African Agricultural Journal,12,pp90-100, (Now East,African Agricultural and Forestry Journal) Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya