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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 Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Parkia bicolor Trade Name Essang Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Parkia zenkeri Common Names Anandwe, Asoma, Assama, Assima, Boe, Boh, Dawa-dua, Dego, Dogo, Essang, Esuane, Etediuku, Gumni, Gumui, Gworluu, Igba odo, Igbado, Ka-kulbei, Kakpaja, Kua-ne, Kulenere, Kwa-ne, La pata fouanga, Lo, Lo-hondo, Locust bean, Locust-beam, Locust-bean, Mukualukoya, Ogirili okpi, Osho, Osonkoran, Parkia, Singa, Ugbore, Ugboro, Woaglu Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hardboards, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Packing cases, Particleboard, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Tables , Trimming, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center This species is secure within its natural habitat in most areas in its range, including Cameroon and Liberia. Its status in the wild is listed as unknown due to insufficient information in Angola, Benin, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Zaire Distribution Overview The species is distributed in West and Central Africa, and occurs from Guinea to Angola. Heartwood Color Brown Reddish brown Pale yellow Pale brown Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color White to yellow Well defined Same as heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Even Closed Straight Wavy Straight Wavy The grain is usually variable Texture Medium Coarse Coarse Even textured Luster Lustrous Natural Durability Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Non durable The wood is susceptible to attack by pinhole borers Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to attack by marine borers and termites Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Perishable It is also liable to blue-stain, particularly on the borders of growth zones. Odor Freshly-Milled wood has an unpleasant odor Light-Induced Color Change None Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Dries rapidly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Sapwood width is 0-5 cm Trunk diameter is reported to range from 24 to 60 inches (60 to 150 cm) at maturity. Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good The bark of the tree is reported to contain tannin The macerated bark and leaves are used for medicinal purposes, and the fruit and seeds are high in oil content, and are edible Blunting Effect The timber is very light and soft, with very little or no blunting effect on cutting edges Boring Fair results Carving Fair carving qualities Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Moderate sawing properties Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate Gluing Easy to glue The material responds especially well to casein and resin-based adhesives Mortising Responds satisfactorily to mortising operations Moulding Moulding operations are satisfactory Nailing Easy to nail The wood can be nailed very easily. No pre-boring is required. Planing Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane The timber is reported to plane to a smooth finish with a natural sheen Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to machine Responds very well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Routing characteristics are rated as fair Sanding Yields a smooth surface Very Good Sanding Properties Turning Satisfactory turning properties Polishing Rather difficult to polish Poor results Varnishing Gluing is often difficult Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low It is weak in compression parallel to grain (maximum crushing strength), and is inferior to Mahogany. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7576 11744 psi Density 28 lbs/ft3 Hardness 657 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2869 5131 psi Shearing Strength 1110 psi Stiffness 1106 1280 1000 psi Weight 27 24 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 532 825 kg/cm2 Density 448 kg/m3 Hardness 298 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 201 360 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 78 kg/cm2 Stiffness 77 89 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 432 384 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 7 % References 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 Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Kunkel, G.,1965,The Trees of Liberia,German Forestry Mission to Liberia Report,No.3 Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5 Meniaud, J., Bretonnet, F.,1926,Les Bois Coloniaux d'Afrique dans l'Industrie,Publ. de l'Agence Gen. des Colonies Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. Savill, P.S., Fox, J.E.D.,1967,Trees of Sierra Leone 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 Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons Voorhoeve, A.G.,1965,Liberian High Forest Trees,Centre for Agric. Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen