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KOSIPO (Entandrophragma candollei)

Trade Name

Kosipo

Scientific Name

Entandrophragma candollei Harms

Family

MELIACEAE

Common Names

Kosipo (Côte d`Ivoire); Kosipo-mahogany (Germany); Unscented mahogany; Tshimaye rouge; Tshimaie tshikunze; Sapele-heavy; Pepedom; Penkwa; Okpoloco; Lifaki mpembe; Heavy sapele; Heavy mahogany; Esaka; Diamuni; Bouboussou rouge; Atom assie; Atom; Omu (United Kingdom); Kosipo-mahogani (Germany); Lifuco (Angola); Impompo (Zaire); Atom-assie (Cameroon); Heavy sapelle (Nigeria); Omu (Nigeria); Penkwa-akowaa (Ghana); Candollei (Ghana); Kosipo

Scientific Name Synonyms

Entandrophragma ferrugineum A. Chev.; Entandrophragma choriandrum Harms in Mildbr.

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

It is a large tree, sometimes of more than 50 m tall. The bole is cylindrical, straight and clear to 32 m in length. The trunk diameter is up to 230 cm, buttressed to a height of about 3 m. It is known or inferred that the harvesting of specimens from th

Natural Habitat

Entandrophragma candollei is found in evergreen, moist and transitional forests.

Natural Distribution

In West Africa, from Angola to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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Wood Identification

Anatomic Description Of Wood

Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 200 micras or more (large). Brown-colored deposits in heartwood vessels. Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation pl Occasionally axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Occasionally axial parenchyma confluent. Axial parenchyma in continuous tangential lines or fine bands. Siliceous bodies in the axial parenchyma cells. 5 to 8 cells per parenchyma stran 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays non-storied. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Silica bodies in the ray cells. Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III). Septate fibers present. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.

  • Wood Macro Photo Radial Plane
  • Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section

Availability

Cites Status

Unrestricted

General Wood Description

Color

The sapwood is whitish to pale brown, it has a thickness of 5 to 7.5 cm. The heartwood is brown to dark purple brown, it is clearly demarcated. The silver figure is fine.

COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)

2

Grain

Straight or slightly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.

Texture

Texture is usually fine to medium.

Luster

The wood surface is described as low in luster.

Natural Durability

Because of its variable resistance it is considered as moderately durable to decay. Without treatment, it can be used when risks of occasional re-humidification; it is not suited for uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification. Moderately

Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)

4

Internal Growth Stresses

No growth stresses are reported in this species.

Silica Content

Silica Content: Presence of silica is reported in timber of this species. Amounts over 0.05% may affect the wood processing. Silica Value: 0.21

Resistance To Impregnation

Difficult to treat with only a low penetration of the preservative products.

Wood Physical Properties

Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)

0.62

Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)

0.69

Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)

6.7

Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)

4.8

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

FR-10

Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)

1.4

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)

890

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

114077

Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

542

Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

69

Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

70

Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)

591

Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)

688

Workability

Sawing

It is easy to saw.

Rotary Veneer Cutting

Suitable for slicing, also suitable for peeling if treated.

Sliced Veneer

Suitable for slicing, also suitable for peeling if treated.

Blunting Effect

Severe blunting effect; stellited blades for sawing and carbide tools for machining are recommended.

Machining

Possible difficulties caused by interlocked grain are reported.

Planing

Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.

Moulding

Easy; no particular problems.

Turning

30

Boring

Easy; no particular problems.

Mortising

Easy; no particular problems.

Nailing

Pre-boring is necessary.

Gluing

Glues well if basic gluing technical rules are followed.

Sanding

Easy to perform; it gives good results.

Polishing

Can be polished without surface preparation.

Response To Hand Tools

No particular problems.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, boards, flooring, parquet, frames, steps, panelling, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, luxury furniture, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, faces, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, turned furniture, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, shingle

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers
Beams
  • 11 - Prospect: The wood database
Joists
  • 12 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part I-Tropical American Species
Boards
  • 13 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section III. Latin American (Mexico, Central, and South America) Woods–Conventional Temperatures
Flooring
  • 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Parquet
  • 15 - Empire Timbers
Frames
  • 16 - Woods of the World
Steps
  • 17 - Tree Conservation Database
Paneling
  • 18 - W3TROPICOS Missouri Botanical Garden
Fittings
  • 19 - Silica in Timbers
Furniture Cabinets
  • 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Furniture, Luxury
  • 22 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section IV-Asian and Oceanian Woods
Cabinet
  • 24 - Empire Timbers
Panels, Veneers
  • 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Faces
  • 26 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Decorative veneer
  • 28 - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest of Fiji
Turning
  • 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
Ornaments
  • 31 - Embassy of Colombia in Japan
Turned Articles
  • 32 - Embassy of Cote d`Ivoire in Japan
Shingles
  • 77 - Amazonian Timbers, Characteristics and Utilization Volume I; Tapajós National Forest

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