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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 Carving Certified Source 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 Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Androstachys johnsonii Trade Name Mecrusse Family Name Euphorbiaceae Common Names Bekungu, Cimbirre, Lebombo ironwood, Mecrusse, Mezimbite, Mocurusse, Muzimbiti, Nsimbitsi, Simbeti, Simbi tree, Simbili, Simbiti, Ubu-koom-koo, Umbitzan, Umbukungu, Umzimbiti, Wildeweper Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Barge fenders, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Bridge beams, Bridge construction, Bridge joists, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Crossties, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Foundation posts, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Harbor work, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Naval architecture, Piling, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wharf construction, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Secure in many areas of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Found in Southeast Africa, in mountainous areas along streams, frequently in pure stands. The tree is an East African wood occurring southwards from Tanzania to the northern part of South Africa. Heartwood Color Brown Red Brown Pale brown Reddish brown Light brown Sapwood Color Yellow White White to yellow Color not distinct from heartwood Grain Figure Straight Wavy Even Closed Growth rings (figure) Stripe (figure) Generally straight, but not always Wavy Clear growth rings (figure) Striped figure May be wavy or curly Curly Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Even textured Luster Medium Lustrous Natural Durability Very durable Resistant to termites Durable Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to marine borers Resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very high natural resistance Resistant to decay Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Durable Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Uk=D US=T3D2/T3C1 T3 - D2 (4/4) US Drying Defects Checking Splitting Moderate surface checking Severe end splitting Ease of Drying Moderately Difficult to Difficult Slowly Thick Stock Requires Care Difficult Dries slowly Air-drying requires thin stickers and pile covers Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 10-20 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that timber production from this species is regular. The material is mainly used locally. Although Angelim is a fairly common tree, it is exported in very limited quantities, and is priced in the moderately high range, when available. Certified Source Certified Source Comments Generally, hard, heavy, and duable Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Low resistance to sawing Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Easy to glue Glues well Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Medium Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Pre-boring recommended Holds nails well Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to plane Planes well, to a good finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Responds well to hand tools Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Easy to turn Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Excellent results Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Varnishing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Strength Properties Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Max. crushing strength = high Hardness (side grain) = Hard Density (dry Weight) = >50 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 10376 17110 psi Density 58 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2664 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9634 psi Shearing Strength 2205 psi Stiffness 1449 1682 1000 psi Specific Gravity 0.62 Weight 61 57 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 10 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 729 1202 kg/cm2 Density 929 kg/m3 Hardness 1208 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 677 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 155 kg/cm2 Stiffness 101 118 1000 kg/cm2 Specific Gravity 0.62 Weight 977 913 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa. 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] Banks, C.H.,1970,The Durability of South African Wood and Wood Base Building Materials,South African Forestry Journal,No.75 Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1965,Androstachys johnsonii,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.103, p60 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. Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO Ferreirinha, M.P.,1955,Catalogo des Madeiras de Mocambique (pt 1,Min. do Ultramar Junta Invest. do Ultranar Memorias Serie Botanica, 2 Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1969,The Movement of Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough Technical Note,No.38 Fortin, Y., Poliquin, J.,1976,Natural Durability and Preservation of 100 Tropical African Woods,International Development Research Centre, Canada Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9 HMSO. 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R. H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. 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. Oliver, A.C.,1974,Timber for Marine and Freshwater Construction,TRADA, London Pardy, A.A.,1954,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Androstachys,johnsonii (Prain,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1751 Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1 Scott, M.H.,1950,Notes on the more Important African Timbers Imported into the Union with,Special Ref. to Port. E.A. Species,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No.19,pp18-62,[South,African Forestry Journal] Sim, T.R.,1921,Native Trees of South Africa,Union of South Africa Department of Mines and Industries Memoir No.3 South African Lumber Millers Assoc.,1969,Notes on some Commercially Available Hardwoods,S.A.L.M.A. Timber Info. Centre Timber Technical Guide,No.1 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.