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LONGHI (Gambeya africana)
Trade Name
Longhi
Scientific Name
Gambeya africana Pierre
Family
SAPOTACEAE
Common Names
Bopambu (Zaire); Longhi (Congo); Mbebame (Gabon); Abam (Cameroon); Anandio (Côte d`Ivoire); Aningueri rouge (Côte d`Ivoire); Akatio (Côte d`Ivoire); Longui rouge (Congo)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Chrysophyllum africanum Baker
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree may reach a height of 30 m. The bole is up to 13 m in length, straight, but usually fluted, with low buttresses. The trunk diameter may be up to 130 cm.
Natural Habitat
Gambeya africana occurs in rain forests and transitional formations.
Natural Distribution
West, Central Africa, from Sierra Leone to Angola.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 to 150 micras (small). Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 10 to 20 (abundant). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits coarse in marginal rows Axial parenchyma in continuous tangential lines or fine bands. Prismatic crystals in short chains in chambered axial parenchyma cells. 5 to 8 cells per parenchyma strand. Axial parenchyma bands over 4 per mm. Rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Rays non-storied. Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Occasionally silica bodies in the ray cells. Heterogeneous rays and/or multiseriate heterogeneous rays. Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The sapwood is paler than heartwood. The heartwood is pinkish brown to yellow-brown, it is not clearly demarcated. The silver figure is fine (barely visible).
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
4
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
Slightly durable to decay. This species needs preservative treatment for uses with risks of occasional re-humidification. It is not suited for uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification. The heartwood is moderately resistant to termites attack.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
6
Internal Growth Stresses
No residual growth stresses are found.
Silica Content
Silica Content: Negligible contents of silica are found in timber of this species. Amounts over 0.05% may affect the wood processing. Silica Value: 0.01
Resistance To Impregnation
Moderately easy to treat with a partial penetration of the preservative products.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.66
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.74
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
7.8
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
5.0
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-7
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.6
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1245
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
192945
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
682
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
94
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
79
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
681
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
771
Workability
Sawing
It is moderately 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
Slight blunting effect; ordinary tools can be used for sawing and machining.
Machining
Machining of this species is reportedly easy.
Planing
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Moulding
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Turning
30
Boring
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Mortising
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
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, cutlery, lasts, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts
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
Knife Handles
- 33 - Embassy of Gabon in Japan
Lasts
- 34 - Embassy of Indonesia in Japan
Handcraft
- 66 - Maderas latinoamericanas. VII. Caracteristicas anatomicas. propiedades fisicomecanicas, de secado, y tratabilidad de la madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav. Oken.)
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