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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. Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Scientific Name Amphimas ferrugineus Trade Name Asanfran Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Asanfran, Bokanga, Edjin, Edzie, Edzil, Lati, Salaki mfutu, Vahn-chu, Yaya Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sierra Leone Common Uses Boxes and crates, Flooring, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Turnery, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Yellow Red Brown Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Grain Straight Even Interlocked Generally straight, but not always Interlocked Texture Coarse Coarse Luster Low Dull Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to marine borers Non durable 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 Perishable Drying Defects Checking Moderate surface checking Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Difficult to machine Strength Properties Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = soft Hardness (side grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10643 16517 psi Density 47 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1326 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5905 8762 psi Stiffness 1460 1686 1000 psi Weight 46 38 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 14 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 748 1161 kg/cm2 Density 753 kg/m3 Hardness 601 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 415 616 kg/cm2 Stiffness 102 118 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 737 608 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % 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 Fouarge, J., Gerard, G.,1964,Bois du Mayumbe,I.N.E.A.C. Belguim Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data