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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 Certified Source Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Phyllarthron madagascariense Trade Name Zahana Family Name Common Names Zahana Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Nigeria Common Uses Broom handles, Building materials, Domestic flooring, Excelsior, Factory flooring, Flooring, Handles, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Ladders , Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Parquet flooring, Pile-driver cushions, Piling, Shafts/Handles, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Trimming, Turnery, Wainscotting Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status within its natural growth range has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs on the west coast of Africa, mainly in Nigeria. Heartwood Color Red Pink Brown White Yellow Orange Purple Black Pale brown Brown - gray Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Green/Grey Orange Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Texture Fine Medium Coarse Even or uniform Uniform Medium Luster Medium Low Natural Durability Non-durable Moderately durable Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to termites Resistant to powder post beetles Suitable for exterior applications The timber has a very high resistance to the adverse effects of weather Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Splitting Distortion Internal Honeycombing Possible Collapse Checking The wood shows a pronounced tendency to surface check during drying Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Slowly Reconditioning Treatement Moderately Difficult to Difficult Fairly difficult to dry Air drying is slow If the wood is dried in the round, splitting can be minimized by pre-soaking the bolts in a saturated solution of a suitable chemical Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Naturally dries at a moderate speed Tree Size Tree height is 60-70 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 50-60 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Tree height is greater than 70 m Trunk diameter is reported to reach about 24 inches (60 cm) at maturity Product Sources Because of the similarities between Phyllarthron madagascariense and P. articulatum , timber produced by the two species are often mixed and marketed together under the same trade name. Certified Source Certified Source Comments Exceptionally strong Heavy Varies in stiffness Blunting Effect Little Medium blunting effect on cutting tools Boring Fairly easy to very easy Very good to excellent results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw The wood exhibits high resistance in sawing, especially in the seasoned condition Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Gluing properties are satisfactory Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results The timber is described as very strong and heavy. It is rather difficult to work in most machining operations especially in the dry condition. Charring is rather common in most operations Resistance to Abrasion Very good wearing properties Zahana can be used for flooring in areas with a high volume of traffic Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Generally polishes well Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good staining qualities Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Ending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content) is exceptionally high. It is far superior in strength to either Teak or Hard maple. Maximum crushing strength, or compression parallel to grain, is exceptionally high. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 14700 22540 psi Maximum Crushing Strength 7350 11564 psi Shearing Strength 2666 psi Stiffness 2313 2666 1000 psi Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1033 1584 kg/cm2 Maximum Crushing Strength 516 813 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 187 kg/cm2 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