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OTOUNGA (Polyalthia suaveolens)
Trade Name
Otounga
Scientific Name
Polyalthia suaveolens Engl. et Diels
Family
ANNONACEAE
Common Names
Ewai (Nigeria); Agudugbu (Nigeria); Otunga (Gabon); Dep (Congo); Modiengue (Central African Republic); Otungui (Cameroon); Otungo (Cameroon); Botunga (Cameroon)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Xylopia otunga Exell; Polyalthia oliveri Engl.; Polyalthia mortehani De Wild.; Polyalthia aubrevillei Ghesquiere Ex Aubre; Polyalthia acuminata Oliv.; Maba gossweileri Greves; Greenwayodendron suaveolens (Engl. & diels) Verdc.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches a height of 30 to 43 m. The bole is slender, cylindrical and straight. It may be up to 30 m in length. The trunk diameter attains 70 to 100 cm.
Natural Habitat
Polyalthia suaveolens grows in coastal, evergreen forests.
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 6 to 10 (medium). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pit Axial parenchyma scalariform. Non-crystals in axial parenchyma cells. 5 to 8 cells per parenchyma strand. Rays less than 4 per mm (rare). Rays of two distinct sizes. Larger rays width 0. 1 mm or more and 2 mm or more in height. Rays non-storied. Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Heterogeneous rays and/or multiseriate heterogeneous rays. Oil and/or Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The heartwood is yellow or brown when dry, it is not demarcated.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
6
Grain
Straight; grain has no particular influence on drying, machining and finishing qualities.
Texture
The wood is reported to be frequently medium textured.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.76
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.86
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
9.7
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.7
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
2.6
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1561
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
183523
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
804
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
117
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
72
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
926
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
984
Workability
Sawing
Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.
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
Moderate blunting effect; stellited blades for sawing and carbide tools for machining are advised.
Machining
It needs powerful tools for processing. 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
Difficult to glue because of high density.
Sanding
Easy to perform; it gives good results.
Polishing
Can be polished without surface preparation.
Response To Hand Tools
Working with hand tools is difficult.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
EXTERIOR GENERAL, poles, crossties, HOUSING GENERAL, flooring, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, TURNING, TOOLS, agricultural tools, CONTAINERS, cooperage, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts
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)
Crossties
- 8 - Maderas latinoamericas. III, Podocarpus standleyi ,Podocarpus oleifolius, Drims granadensis, Magnolia poasana y Didymopanax pittieri
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Flooring
- 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Fittings
- 19 - Silica in Timbers
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Cabinet
- 24 - Empire Timbers
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Turning
- 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
Agricultural Tools
- 44 - Atlas of Peruvian Woods
Containers
- 50 - Properties of imported tropical woods
Cooperage
- 51 - Recopilacion de propiedades mecanicas de maderas creciendo en Chile
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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