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MUKARATI (Burkea africana)
Trade Name
Mukarati
Scientific Name
Burkea africana Hook.
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Combo kourou (Guinea); Mukarati (Uganda); Burkea (Uganda); Mkarati (Tanzania); Burkea (Tanzania); Burkea (Kenya); Burkea (Ethiopia); Mucarala (Mozambique)
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches 15 to 20 m in height, with a bole length of 5 to 6 m. The trunk diameter is between 30 to 60 cm.
Natural Habitat
Burkea africana is widely distributed in dry savanna forests.
Natural Distribution
From Nigeria southward to south Africa.
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). Brown-colored deposits in heartwood vessels. Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 6 to 10 (medium). Simple perforation plates. Ve Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform. Axial parenchyma confluent. Non-crystals in axial parenchyma cells. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays non-storied. Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The sapwood is white with yellow or pink tones, it has a thickness of 2.5 cm. The heartwood is brown with green or grey tinges, turning dark brown or red brown on exposure, it is not clearly demarcated.
Grain
Straight or slightly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.
Texture
The wood is mostly fine in texture.
Luster
The wood surface is low in luster.
Natural Durability
Durable to decay; this species can be utilized without preservative treatment for exterior joinery or similar uses. 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)
0.75
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.85
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: It was noted that the wood has no difficulties in drying. The rate of shrinkage from green to oven dry is 2.9% radial and 6.4% tangential. Drying Defects: It can stand very rapid drying without suffering any appreciable damage. But end-splitting may occurs when green wood is kiln dried too fast. The wood color is said to improve by the kiln-seasoned. And once it's dry, the wood is exceptional stable in serv Kiln Schedules: Pre-drying is recommended. The temperature during kiln drying should be 43-71oC and the corresponding relative humidity should decrease from 84% to 38%.
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1365
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
166097
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
723
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
170
Workability
Sawing
Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
Not suitable for veneering.
Sliced Veneer
Not suitable for veneering.
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
Rather difficult; special tools are needed.
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
Difficult to glue because of high density.
Sanding
Particular care is needed to avoid woolly aspect of the surface.
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, stakes posts, crossties, HOUSING GENERAL, parquet, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, TURNING, SPORTS, TOOLS, tool handles, agricultural tools, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boats, 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)
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
Fittings
- 19 - Silica in 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.)
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