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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 Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Light-Induced Color Change
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
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
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Nauclea diderrichii

Trade Name
Opepe

Family Name
Rubiaceae

Synonyms
Sarcocephalus trillesii


Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Abouko, Akondoc, Aloma, Aloua, Asibo, Awesu, Badi, Bedo, Bilinga, Bohia, Bonkangu, Bonkese, Bosema, Bosima, Brimstone, Bundui, Doe-yah, Dubawile, Dunkake, Echinchin, Edjin, Eke, Ekusiawa, Engolo, Eridinda, Etinda, Gluu, Groussou, Gulu, Gulu-maza, Gulumanzi, Ikaka, Issoula, Kantate, Kilingi, Kilu, Kusia, Kusia papa, Kusiaba, Kusiabe, Kusiabo, Kussia, Linzi, Mamoundi, Mokesse, Moukonia, Mtoma, N'gulu, N'gulu maza, N'gulu-maza, Nguebe, Obiache, Odosi, Opepe, Opepi, Owessu, Owoso, Sibo, Sukisia, Tebotue, Toumbo, Uburu, Urherekor, Wei-yidi

Regions of Distribution
Africa

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

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: planking, Bridge construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Crossties, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Harbor work, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Tables, Truck bodies, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat
Rare in parts of its natural range (population is at risk)
Generally secure within most of its natural habitat, but note exceptions.
Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center

Rare in Ghana and Uganda, Vulnerable in Cameroon

Distribution Overview
The natural range of the species extends from Sierra Leone to the Congo region and eastward to Uganda. The species usually grows in pure stands.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Pink
Red
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Brown
Orangish cast
Darkens after prolonged exposure
Dark brown

The heartwood is orange-brown, orange, or golden-yellow in color, with a copper luster, and darkens upon exposure. The striking color of the wood, together with the figure is reported to give it a very attractive appearance.

Sapwood Color
Brown
White to yellow
Pinkish
Paler than heartwood
Well defined
Grey
Distinct from the heartwood
Different than heartwood


Grain
Figure
Interlocked
Distinct (figure)
Straight
Stripe (figure)
Closed
Even
Mottle
Rippled (figure)
Irregular

Interlocked
Distinct figure
Straight
Striped figure
Rippled figure
Mottled or streaked figure sometimes
Irregular
Distinct and very fine figure

The grain is usually interlocked or irregular, and produces an attractive ribbon or rope figure.

Texture
Fine
Even or uniform
Coarse
Medium coarse to coarse
Medium


Luster
High
Medium
Lustrous
Medium to high


Natural Growth Defects
Yellowish deposits in vessels
Gum and mineral deposits


Natural Durability
Perishable
Resistant to attack from marine borers
Very durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack
Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles)
Durable
Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles
Heartwood is very durable
Good weathering properties

Sapwood is moderately resistant to attack by termites in West Africa.

Odor
Wood has slightly bitter taste
Slight fragrant aroma associated with freshly cut wood

Freshly-Cut wood has a slightly fragrant aroma, which becomes indistinct when the wood is seasoned

Light-Induced Color Change
Darker


Toxicity
Dermatitic effects

The wood contains an alkaloid that is toxic to some individuals.

Kiln Schedules
UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5
Dry at a slow speed
Drying (speed) is fast
T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US
Schedule E; United Kingdom
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow


Drying Defects
Collapse
Checking
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Severe surface checking
Severe end splitting
Slight surface checking
Moderate end spitting
Slight twist/warp
No twisting or warping
Moderate surface checking
Slight end splitting
Surface checks
No surface checking
No end splitting
Expect splits
Distortion (twist/warp) is likely

Quartersawn material dries with very little checking or distortion, but flat sawn timber tends to be refractory and may surface-check, split and distort during drying.

Ease of Drying
Variable
Requires special attention
Difficult
Moderate
Figure Occurrence is variable

Quartersawn stock dries well, but backsawn material can be refractory. Thin stickers and end protection are advisable

Kiln Drying Rate
Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is buttressed


Tree Size
Bole length is 0-10 m
Tree height is 30-40 m
Tree height is 40-50 m
Tree height is 50-60 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm


Product Sources
The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced in rather low quantities. The timber is currently being promoted for export.

Supplies are plentiful, and good sized material of excellent quality is readily available at fairly expensive prices.

Comments
Abnormal Growth Defects

General finishing qualities are rated as good

Hidden defects such as reddish granular stones or heart shakes may be present.

Blunting Effect
Moderate
Blunting effect on machining is moderate
Blunting effect on machining is slight
Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate
Medium dulling effect on cutting edges


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly easy to very easy
Fairly easy with ordinary tools
Difficult


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair carving characteristics


Cutting Resistance
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Moderate to fairly difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate

Slow feeding rates and 17 degree cutting angles are recommended for best results.

Gluing
Fair to Good Results
Easy to glue
Satisfactory gluing properties


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Material mortises fairly easily


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good moulding properties


Movement in Service
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Small
Stable


Nailing
Fair to Good Results
Possible if prebored
Easy to nail
Difficult to nail
Holds nails well

There is a slight tendency for the timber to split in nailing

Planing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to plane
Special attention required
Responds well to ordinary tools in mortising
Difficult to plane

A reduced planing angle of 10 degrees is recommended in quartersawn material to prevent pick-up

Resistance to Impregnation
Permeable sapwood
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is moderately resistant
Sapwood is permeable
Heartwood is somewhat permeable


Resistance to Splitting
Poor


Response to Hand Tools
Responds Readily
Easy to machine
Moderate working qualities
Fair response to hand tools


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Routing is difficult
Fair routing properties


Sanding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good sanding finish
Easy to sand


Screwing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to screw
Screwing yields good results

The wood takes screws rather well.

Turning
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to turn


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for slicing
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits