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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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Mortising Moulding 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 Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Polyscias ornifolia Trade Name Achenichen Family Name Araliaceae Common Names Achenichen, Bugei, Manurauriki, Rai young, Rakapo humutarung poko, Tirakapo humutarung pok, Voantsilana Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Madagascar Common Uses Balusters, Bedroom suites, Building construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hardboards, Hatracks, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Model airplanes, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Specialty items, Stairworks Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs in Madagascar. Heartwood Color Brown White Green/grey Grey Yellow Grayish-white Brown Sapwood Color White Not clearly defined from sapwood Grain Even Straight Generally straight, but not always Texture Even or uniform Fine and uniform Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Susceptible to insect and marine borer attack Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Uneven Moisture Content Moderate twist/warp Moderate cupping Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Dries rapidly with little degrade Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 40-50 m Tree height is 60-70 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Blunting Effect Little Boring Poor to very poor results Fairly difficult to very difficult Good results Easy Carving Good results Cutting Resistance Satisfactory sawing characteristics Easy to saw Gluing Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good gluing properties Mortising Responds well to mortising operations Moulding Excellent moulding properties Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory nailing properties Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes well, to a good finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is permeable Response to Hand Tools Good response Routing & Recessing Fairly good response to preservative treatment Sanding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory screwing properties Turning Good results Easy to turn Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Painting Fair to Good Results Polishing Fair results Strength Properties Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 8820 13328 psi Maximum Crushing Strength 4410 7595 psi Shearing Strength 1862 psi Stiffness 1519 1764 1000 psi Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 620 937 kg/cm2 Maximum Crushing Strength 310 533 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 130 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