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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. Boring Carving Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Luster Mortising Moulding Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Scientific Name Pterocarpus antunesii Trade Name Chi-viri Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Pterocarpus stevonsonii Common Names Chi-viri, Chivili, M'wangura, Mukambo, Mwangula, Mwangura, Mzundalima Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Zambia, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Mine timbers, Oars, Plywood, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Walking sticks, Wheel spokes Environmental Profile Rare Heartwood Color White Grey Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Sapwood Color White Same as heartwood Grain Straight Figure Even Weak (figure) Growth rings (figure) Interlocked Straight Weak figure Clear growth rings (figure) Interlocked Texture Coarse Fine Fine to medium Luster High Dull Natural Durability Perishable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Drying Defects Discoloration Ease of Drying Reconditioning Treatement Fairly Easy Little degrade Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is fluted Bole/stem form is buttressed Tree Size Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 30-40 m Boring Poor to very poor results Fairly easy to very easy Carving Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Nailing Holds nails well Planing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Routing & Recessing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Screwing yields satisfactory results Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to turn Painting Satisfactory results Polishing Satisfactory results Varnishing Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very hard Bending strength (MOR) = medium Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9310 14566 psi Density 49 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2940 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 3185 psi Stiffness 1358 1568 1000 psi Weight 48 38 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 1024 kg/cm2 Density 785 kg/m3 Hardness 1333 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 223 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 110 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 769 608 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % 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 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 Chalk, L., et al,1932,Some East African Coniferae and Leguminosae,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 1 Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola Storrs, A.E.G.,1979,Know your Trees - Some of the Common Trees found in Zambia,Zambia Forestry Department, Ndola Timber Information Assoc. Ltd.,1947,Notes on East African Timbers,TRADA, Timber Information, No.28 White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London