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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 Schedules Light-Induced Color Change 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 Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Parinari excelsa Trade Name Sougue Family Name Chrysobalanaceae Synonyms Parinari salicifolia, Parinari tenuifolia, Parinarium elliotii, Parinarium excelsum, Parinarium mildbraedii Common Names Afam, Aiomoradan, Assain, Assila, Assita, Bobombi, Bonzole, Bula, Catesima, Dawe, Distschia, Ditschia, Djirro, Ebula, Ebura, Esagko, Eshagho, Gboh, Grahm-sougue, Grey plum, Grey skinned plum, Guinea plum, Gulih, Inyi, Koolako, Kotosima, Kotossouma, Kotue, Kpar, Kura, Kura-mako, Kurahi, Kuranako, Kwanedua, Mampata, Mampataz, Mampato, Mbula, Mbura, Merecurillo, Mose, Msabala, Mubara, Mubura, Muganda, Mula, Mulanga, Munazi, Mushimba, Namulambo, Nnamulambo, Ofam, Omushamba, Patobi, Pemba, Pembe, Piolo, Rough skinned plum, Shuge, Sougue, Sougue a grandes feuilles, Suge Regions of Distribution Africa, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Columbia, Equatorial Guinea, French Guiana, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Venezuela Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Charcoal, Construction, Decks, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Vehicle parts Environmental Profile Very secure within its natural range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center There is very little threat to the species' environment in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Surinam, and Venezuela, but it is classified as Vulnerable in Cameroon. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information in Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone Distribution Overview This pan-tropical species occurs widely in tropical Africa and America. It usually grows in mixed stands at elevations of 3000 and 6000 feet (915 and 1830 m). Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Green/grey Pale red to pink Reddish brown Greenish to greyish Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Dark brown Red - pale Brown - chocolate Sapwood Color White White to yellow Well defined Paler than heartwood Pale yellow Not clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Interlocked Closed Figure Even Straight Wavy Interlocked Wavy Straight The grain is wavy, though often very irregular and interlocked Texture Medium Coarse Medium coarse to coarse Coarse Medium Fine Luster High Slightly lustrous Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Perishable Moderately durable Resistant to attack from marine borers Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Very little natural resistance Very durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present The wood is susceptible to attack by termites and pinhole borers, but is resistant to marine borers. The timber has moderate resistance to the advers effects of the weather Odor The odor disappears after the timber is seasoned The sapwood has a scent of honey when freshly cut Silica Content Siliceous Severe The wood usually contains very high amounts of silica; levels of more than 1% (of ovendry weight) have been reported. A silica content of 0.05% is usually considered to be high enough to affect the machining properties of wood Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 UK=B K=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 Drying (speed) is fast Preliminary air-drying before kiln-drying is suggested. Drying Defects Checking Severe end splitting Severe surface checking Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Moderate twist/warp Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight spring/bow Severe twisting/warping No end splitting No cupping, generally Moderate spring/bow The wood has a tendency to distort and split during drying, and may check and warp Ease of Drying Reconditioning Treatement Fairly Easy Difficult Moderate Tendency to split and distort Preliminary air-drying should precede kiln drying to minimize degrade Mild kiln schedules recommended to minimize drying defects Fairly difficult to dry Dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size The tree reaches a height of 150 to 170 feet (45 to 61 m), with a trunk diameter of 36 to 60 inches (100 to 150 cm) above large buttresses that are up to 10 feet (3 m) high. It develops boles that are mostly of good form and cylindrical. They are usually clear of branches for 60 to 90 feet (18 to 27 m). Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect High to severe Blunting effect on machining is severe Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe The wood has severe dulling effect on tools due to high amounts of silica Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult The timber saws with some difficulty, especially in the seasoned condition, because of silica. Tungsten-tipped cutters are required Gluing Easy to glue Satisfactory gluing properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Finishes poorly Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Large Fair to poor dimensional stability after seasoning Tends to move considerably after manufacture. Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring is necessary Possible if prebored Holds nails well Difficult to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to plane Specially-Tipped cutters are required Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Seasoned wood is rather difficult to plane and material containing irregular grain may tear in planing operations Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Poor Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Response to hand tools is dependent upon amount of silica, but it is generally poor. Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring is required before screwing Difficult to screw Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor results Difficult to turn Tends to dull cutting edges of ordinary tools rapidly and severely The timber is generally difficult to work because of high silica content. Tungsten-carbide tipped cutters are recommended. Veneering Qualities No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting Easy to cut Steam Bending Moderate The wood has moderately good steam bending characteristics. Painting Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Fairly good polishing characteristics Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Bending strength (MOR) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Max. crushing strength = very high Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard