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MUHIMBI (Cynometra alexandri)
Trade Name
Muhimbi
Scientific Name
Cynometra alexandri C.H.Wright
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Angu (Belgium); Utuna (Zaire); Muhimbi (Uganda)
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
Tree reaches a height of 40 to 45 m, with a wide low-branched crown. The bole is rarely more than 15 m. Trunk diameter is between 100 to 150 cm.
Natural Habitat
Cynometra alexandri usually represents a somewhat dry type of forest, but it also occurs in forest swamps. It is normally a gregarious species.
Natural Distribution
From Central and East Africa.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 micras or less (very small). Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 more than 20 (very abundant). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to i Axial parenchyma in discontinuous tangential lines. Axial parenchyma storied. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. 5 to 8 cells per parenchyma strand. Rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Rays storied. Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Rays 1 to 2 seriate. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III). Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The sapwood is yellowish white, it has a thickness of 5 to 7 cm. The heartwood is pink brown to reddish brown, with darker markings, it is clearly demarcated.
Grain
Straight or highly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.
Texture
Fine texture is reported in this species.
Natural Durability
Very durable to decay; without preservative treatment. This species is especially suited for all the uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification. Resistant to termites attack. Heartwood is resistant to Lyctus attacks.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
1
Resistance To Impregnation
Nearly impossible to treat with a too much low penetration of the preservative substances.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.82
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.94
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
8.5
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
4.5
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Kiln drying time from green to 12%m.c. is about 10 days for quarter sawn material and 5 days for backsawn stock. If preliminary air drying to 25%m.c. is under taken. Times are reduced to 4 days and 2 days respectively. Drying Defects: The occurrence of some bow & twist make it desirable to stack weighting during drying is suggested. Checking is not a dignificant problem.Good results are obtained with 50mm material, whether by air drying, partial air drying, or full kiln drying.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-13
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.9
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
2058
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
178325
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
683
Workability
Sawing
Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
Not suitable for veneering.
Sliced Veneer
Not suitable for veneering.
Blunting Effect
Severe blunting effect; stellited blades for sawing and carbide tools for machining are recommended.
Machining
It needs powerful tools for processing. Possible difficulties caused by interlocked grain are reported. It is recommended to use special tools for cutting.
Planing
Rather difficult; special tools are needed.
Moulding
Rather difficult; special tools are needed.
Turning
30
Boring
Rather difficult; special tools are needed.
Mortising
Rather difficult; special tools are needed.
Nailing
Pre-boring is necessary.
Gluing
Difficult to glue because of high density.
Sanding
Difficult to obtain very good results because of interlocked grain.
Polishing
Can be polished without surface preparation.
Steam Bending
This species can be used for steam bending.
Response To Hand Tools
Working with hand tools is difficult.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
EXTERIOR GENERAL, poles, stakes posts, crossties, HOUSING GENERAL, parquet, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, TURNING, SPORTS, TOOLS, tool handles, agricultural tools, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boats, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts, scale model
Exterior General
- 1 - Tabela de resultados de ensaios fisicos e mecanicos
Poles
- 3 - Estudo dendrologico e determinacao das caracteristicas fisicas e mecanicas do genipapo (Genipa americana)
Stake Posts
- 5 - Propriedades fisicas e mecanicas da madeira e do contraplacado de Pinus elliottii
Crossties
- 8 - Maderas latinoamericas. III, Podocarpus standleyi ,Podocarpus oleifolius, Drims granadensis, Magnolia poasana y Didymopanax pittieri
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Parquet
- 15 - Empire Timbers
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Cabinet
- 24 - Empire Timbers
Turning
- 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
Sports
- 38 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Agricultural Tools
- 44 - Atlas of Peruvian Woods
Shipbuilding
- 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Boats
- 56 - Manual de Identificación de Especies Forestales de la Subregión Andina.
Handcraft
- 66 - Maderas latinoamericanas. VII. Caracteristicas anatomicas. propiedades fisicomecanicas, de secado, y tratabilidad de la madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav. Oken.)
Scale Models
- 83 - Algunas caracteristicas fisicomecanicas de la madera de tres especies de la cordillera NeoVolcanica
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