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 Schedules 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 Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Poga oleosa Trade Name Ovoga Family Name Rhizophoraceae Common Names Afo, African brazil nut, Angale, Avoga, Bonyor, Ekom, Emyu, Enoi, Ikoi, Iku, Imono, Imonon, Imonor, Inoi, Inoi nut, Inoye, Inyere, M'poga, M'pongoue, Mfo, Mpfo, Mpoi, Muguba, Muleko, Ngale, Njole, Njove, Nyare, Nyore, Okeco, Onyo, Ovoga, Ovovo, Pobo, Poga, Poga enoi Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Nigeria, Zaire Common Uses Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Packing cases, Paneling, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Stools, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vats, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes, Woodwork Environmental Profile Vulnerable Status unknown in many of its growth areas Secure in many areas of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview The species occurs from south-eastern Nigeria to Gabon. It is found in evergreen forests and on abandoned farmlands. Heartwood Color Brown Red Purple Pale red to pink Red Pale brown Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color Pink White to yellow Well defined Pinkish White/Gray Pink stripes Paler than heartwood Grain Figure Distinct (figure) Interlocked Straight Stripe (figure) Closed Wavy Even Other (figure) Variable (figure) Distinct figure Straight Striped figure Interlocked Wavy Other figure Variable figure Interlocked Broad rays produce silver grain on quartersawn surfaces Texture Medium Coarse Luster Low Lustrous Natural Durability Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Moderately durable Very little natural resistance The standing tree is susceptible to attack by Longhorn beetles. Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Poor weathering properties Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Odor No specific smell or taste Toxicity Some toxic effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Checking Distortion Slight twist/warp Slight surface checking Slight collapse and honeycomb No twisting or warping No end splitting Severe twisting/warping No surface checking No collapse/honeycomb Backsawn baords are uniquely resistant to warping Ease of Drying Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Easy Prolonged conditioning period and regular moisture content checks control variable drying rates Fiber saturation point is very high Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is not buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 20-30 m Tree height is 30-40 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Good boring qualities Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good results Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Easy to saw Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good gluing properties Mortising Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good mortising properties Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulds easily with ordinary tools Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Holds nails well Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant sapwood Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to machine Good response Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly good response to preservative treatment Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly good sanding characteristics Screwing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Screwing yields good results Easy to screw Good screwing properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Veneering Qualities Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Good Painting Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Requires filler Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Poor results Wide rays make polishing difficult Staining Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Varnishing Satisfactory Pre-treatment needed or recommended Gluing is often difficult Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Tangential = large Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = soft Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Weight = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density = medium Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7275 10290 psi Density 27 lbs/ft3 Hardness 657 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3126 5291 psi Shearing Strength 882 psi Stiffness 1074 1147 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.34 0.39 Weight 26 22 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 511 723 kg/cm2 Density 432 kg/m3 Hardness 298 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 219 372 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 62 kg/cm2 Stiffness 75 80 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.34 0.39 Weight 416 352 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48 Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal] Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1950,Ovoga - Poga oleosa,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.14, pp145-8 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 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France France - C.T.F.T.,1966,Bois Tropicaux,C.T.F.T. Publ.,12 France - Comite Nacional des Bois Coloniaux,1931,Etude Physique et Mecanique des Bois Coloniaux,Assoc. Colonies-Sciences & Comite National des Bios Coloniaux, Paris,,France Gutierrez Oliva, A., Plaza Pulgar, F.,1967,Caracteristicas fisico-mecanicas de las maderas Espanolas. (Physical and,mechanical properties of Spanish timbers.,Min.Agric./Dir.Gen Montes/Instituto Forestral de Investigaciones,y,Experiencias, Madrid pp102 Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Japing, H.W.,1957,Tests about the most important mechanical and physical properties of 41,Surinam woods,Konin. Institut voor de Tropen,Amsterdam Meded,122 (Afd.,Trop.,Prod.46) Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees . Clarendon Press, Oxford. 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 Meniaud, J., Bretonnet, F.,1926,Les Bois Coloniaux d'Afrique dans l'Industrie,Publ. de l'Agence Gen. des Colonies Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23 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 Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London