Search for

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 Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Amphimas pterocarpoides Trade Name Lati Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Asanfran, Bliagl, Bliaglu, Bokanga, Edjin, Edjin edzil, Edzil, Edzui, Grandes fleurs, Gworluh, Lati, Melegba, Mualeluku, Muizi, Ogiya, Va tue, Va-tue, Vahn chu, Vahn-chu, Yaya Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, Zaire Common Uses Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Ceiling, Crossties, Decorative veneer, Domestic flooring, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Flooring, Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Parquet flooring, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Siding, Stair rails, Stairworks, Sub-flooring, Trimming, Veneer, Veneer: decorative Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview In tropical west and central Africa, mostly from Guinea to Zaire in the high forests. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Tan White to yellow Tan to brown in color Paler than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Straight Closed Even Wavy Figure Interlocked Stripe (figure) Generally straight, but not always Wavy Striped figure Interlocked Ripple marks are often present. Texture Coarse Medium Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Luster Low Dull Natural Durability Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Perishable Durable Non-resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Moderately durable Non durable Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Perishable Moderately resistant to decay Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change Darker Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Checking Distortion Severe twisting/warping Moderate surface checking Ease of Drying Slowly Fairly Easy Rapidly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Dries slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 50-60 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Difficult Carving Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly difficult to carve Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Glues well Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Very sharp edges are required Moulding Fair to Good Results Requires very sharp cutting edges Moulds well (70+ % of pieces will yield good to excellent results) Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Holds shape well Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to nail Tends to split during nailing Pre-boring recommended Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Very Good to Excellent Results Planes well, to a good finish Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Poorly Easy to machine Difficult to machine Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Pre-boring recommended Recommend pre-boring Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Painting Very Good to Excellent Results Very good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Stains well Finish is generally satisfactory Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Tangential = large Hardness (side grain) = soft Bending strength (MOR) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modules of Elasticity = High Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10338 15861 psi Density 47 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 5262 8345 psi Shearing Strength 1862 psi Stiffness 1710 1978 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.48 0.58 Weight 48 45 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 726 1115 kg/cm2 Density 753 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 369 586 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 130 kg/cm2 Stiffness 120 139 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.58 Weight 769 721 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % 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 Dudek, S.,1981,Lesser Known Liberian Timber Species,German Agency for Technical Cooperation Germany Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France. ITTO. New Marketable Species Technical Notes. Prepared by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent-sur-marne Cedex, France Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 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 Lincoln, W. A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California. Maeglin, R., C. K. Baah, G. Troemmer, J. D. Danielson, and S. P. Loehnertz. 1989. Pre-project Report: Sawing of Difficult Species. Prepared for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. 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 WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.