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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Morus mesozygia Trade Name Difou Family Name Moraceae Common Names Apia, Avewotse, Aye, Bokenyama, Bona, Bongola, Bonkese, Ceceru, Difou, Dwini, Ewe aiye, Forescom, Kankate, Kebuni, Kesse, Lekankate, Lifokpe, Mei, Mulberry, N'tama, Odakum, Ododma, Okum, Ossel, Ossie, Sanda, Wanton, Wonton Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Lumber, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rough boards/dimension stock, Rustic furniture, Sporting Goods, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Questionable Extinct Endangered Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat Status unknown in many of its growth areas Status unknown due to inadequate information Secure in many areas of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Secure within its range, including Cameroon, but classified as Vulnerable in Ivory Coast. Its environmental status is listed as unknown because of inadequate information in Angola, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, and Zaire Distribution Overview The species occurs on the fringes of the humid forests from Senegal to Cameroon, and Gabon. It is also reported to grow in dry savannah formations. The species is widely cultivated as a shade tree and to mark farm boundaries Heartwood Color Red Brown Purple Yellow Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Brown White to cream Darkens with age Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Well defined Wide Grey The sapwood is pale gray or white in color and is very wide in young trees. Grain Interlocked Figure Even Distinct (figure) Mottle Stripe (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Striped figure Slightly interlocked Mottled or streaked figure sometimes Texture Medium Fine Very fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Medium Medium coarse to coarse Fine to medium Coarse Luster Medium High Lustrous Pronounced Medium Natural Durability Very durable Durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Perishable Non durable Durable Very durable Susceptible to termite attack Susceptible to pinhole borers Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack by marine borers Susceptible to attack by marine borers and termites Susceptible to attack by forest longhorn beetle Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Moderately durable Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Ease of Drying Seasons satisfactorily Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Tree develops wide spreading root ridges. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Medium dulling effect on cutting edges Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult The wood responds to moulding operations fairly well, but cutters may dull fairly rapidly Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly easy with ordinary tools Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Good sawing properties Gluing Easy to glue Good gluing properties Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Material mortises fairly easily Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair moulding results (50+ % of pieces will yield good to excellent results) Easy to mould Nailing Fair to Good Results Possible if prebored Holds nails well Easy to nail Good nailing characteristics Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Special attention required Responds well to hand and machine tools Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges Easy to plane A reduction of the planing angle to 15 degrees is recommended to avoid grain pick-up Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is moderately resistant Heartwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Fairly good response to preservative treatment Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair routing properties Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly good sanding properties Screwing Fair to Good Results Screwing yields good results Easy to screw Possible if prebored Good screw holding properties The material screws and holds screws well. Turning Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Painting Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Good finishing and polishing characteristics Staining Poor to Very Poor Results Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = very high Bending strength (MOR) = very high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = high Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Very heavy Very dense Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = hard Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high The species has exceptionally high bending strength properties in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It is far stronger, for example, than Hard maple, White oak, or Teak Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 15861 23360 psi Density 53 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2816 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 8641 12708 psi Shearing Strength 2648 psi Stiffness 2221 2559 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.64 0.71 Weight 52 41 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1115 1642 kg/cm2 Density 849 kg/m3 Hardness 1277 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 607 893 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 186 kg/cm2 Stiffness 156 179 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.64 0.71 Weight 833 657 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1951,Difou (Morus mezozygia,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No 18-19,pp143-6 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. Depar