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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 Comments Common Names Common Uses Corrosive Properties Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Podocarpus milanjianus Trade Name African podocarpus Family Name Podocarpaceae Common Names African podocarpus, Chemsidu, Duku, Kisalasala, Livuwa, Maisi, Mkute, Mse-namawe, Mseso, Mtokosi, Mtongosos, Mtosi, Mukeke, Munyenza, Musangiria, Musenene, Musengera, Mushijha, Mushunga, Mutarai, Muyunjui, Mvembanyigo, Nkachi, Nyarulasi, Ol-chani-lengai, Podo, Podocarpus, Ruhombge, Saptet, Septa, Serti, Sitatet, Sosaite, Tawaso, Yellowwood Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Beehives, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Concrete formwork, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Musical instruments, Paneling, Particleboard, Piling, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Tables, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Veneer Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown White to cream Sapwood Color Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Straight Figure Even Growth rings (figure) Weak (figure) Straight Weak figure Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Medium Fine Luster Medium Slightly lustrous Dull Natural Durability Non durable Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Perishable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Light-Induced Color Change Darker Corrosive Properties Non-corrosive Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1 Dry at a moderate speed Drying Defects Checking Slight end splitting Slight surface checking Moderate twist/warp Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting Ease of Drying Moderate Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Moderately easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Easy to glue Moderate gluing properties Mortising Easy to mortise Finishes well Interlocked slightly to moderately Moulding Good finishing results Easy to mould Interlocked slightly to moderately Movement in Service Stable Small Medium Nailing Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Resistance to Splitting Poor Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Easy to treat using either open tank or pressure syste Contains alkaloids giving it good acid resistance Satisfactory routing results Moderately easy Screwing Screwing yields good results Easy to screw Turning Good results Easy to turn Satisfactory Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Moderate Painting Good results Satisfactory results Polishing Good results Satisfactory results Staining Satisfactory Finish is generally good Staining (Characteristic) = coloured water-soluble extract Non-Staining Varnishing Good results Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Mor/Bending strength = low Max. crushing strength = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = soft Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = small Toughness (total work) = very low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Work to Maximum Load Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Mor/Bending strength = very low Max. crushing strength = low Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5855 9163 psi Density 32 lbs/ft3 Hardness 657 lbs Impact Strength 25 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1310 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Toughness 95 inch-lbs Work to Maximum Load 7 10 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 31 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 411 644 kg/cm2 Density 512 kg/m3 Hardness 298 kg Impact Strength 63 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 92 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 109 cm-kg Work to Maximum Load 0.49 0.70 cm-kg/cm3 Weight 496 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Battiscombe, E., Dale, I.R.,1936,Trees and Shrubs of Kenya Colony,Govt. Printer Nairobi Bengough, C.C.,1971,Commercial Timbers of Kenya,Ministry of Natural Resources Forest Department, Kenya Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35 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 Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World No.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Bryce, J.M., Norcross, H.,1961,The Resistance of Tanganyika Timbers to Impregnation,Tanzania Forest Dept. Util. Sec .Tech. Note,No.28 Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi Chalk, L., et al,1932,Some East African Coniferae and Leguminosae,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 1 Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research Grant, D.K.S.,1934,Some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Department Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. Kenya Forest Department,1941,Strengths of Kenya timbers,Kenya Forest Department Bulletin No. 36 Lomibao, A., Meniado, A.,1974,The woods of Philippine Anacardiacene (Genera Buchanania, Parishia and,Pistaria,Forpride Digest 3(3/4) pp69-70 Pardy, A.A.,1956,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1891 Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Redding, L.W.,1971,Resistance of Timbers to Impregnation with Creosote,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Bulletin No.54 pp.43 Saeed Ahmed, S., Mahammad Ayaz, and Taj Mohammad,1977,Properties and Uses of Commercial Timbers in Pakistan,Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, Division of Forest Products Bulletin,No.3 Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30 Tack, C.H.,1958,The Strength Properties of some Uganda Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Bulletin No. 5 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 Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1