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ACAJOU D`AFRIQUE (Khaya grandifoliola)
Trade Name
Acajou d`Afrique
Scientific Name
Khaya grandifoliola C.DC.
Family
MELIACEAE
Common Names
Benin Mahogany (Nigeria); Acajou Grandes Feuilles (Côte d`Ivoire); Acajou grandes feuilles (France); Heavy African Mahogany (United Kingdom); Eri Kire (Uganda); Wausauwah; Wansanwa; Upono; Trio; Tido; Tiama-tiama; Senegal mahogany; Ono; Oganwo; Odupon; Oduben; Odala; Obon; Murraya; Munyama; Mario; Male; Loukrou; Krubna; Kruba; Khaya mahogany; Homraya; Heavy African mahogany; Gagaliga; Gadeau; Eri; Dumanami; Dukuma; Dukru; Dubini; Dirinshi; Diki; Digiten; Bogu; Big leaf mahogany; Benin mahogany; Asamogo; Appapayi; Apenkwa; Akor; African mahogany; Acajou; Bandoro (Sudan); Eri kiree (Uganda); Ogwango (Nigeria); Akuk (Nigeria); Diala-iri (Ghana); Acajou d`Afrique
Scientific Name Synonyms
Khaya kerstingii Engl.; Khaya grandis Stapf
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches a height of 32 to 40 m, with trunk diameters from 100 to 150 cm. The bole is usually twisted or crooked with low branching. Log is banned for international trading.(Cameroon)
Natural Habitat
Khaya grandifoliola is often found in the fringe between the rain forest and the savanna. National conservation status in Benin V, Cote d`Ivoire V.
Natural Distribution
West tropical Africa from the Guinea Coast to Cameroon and extending eastward through the Congo basin to Uganda and parts of Sudan.
Plantations Available?
Tested and planted in some African countries. In most cases, mixed plantations with other species (Niangon, Okoume, Bilinga). The duration of the rotation is 40 years, to reach 60 cm in diameter.
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 6 to 10 (medium). Simple perforation plat Occasionally axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Occasionally prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays of two distinct sizes. Occasionally rays storied. Rays 1 to 2 seriate. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Body ray cells procumbent with mostly 2 to 4 rows of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-II). Septate fibers present. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Odor
Light and pleasant odor.
Color
The sapwood is creamy white to yellowish white, it has a thickness of 5 cm. The heartwood is pink to light red brown, it is clearly demarcated. The silver figure is fine.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
3
Grain
The grain is slightly but systematically interlocked; special care is needed when drying because of frequent risks of distortion.
Texture
The wood is reported to be frequently medium textured.
Luster
It is reported to be low in luster.
Natural Durability
Moderately durable to decay. Without preservative treatment, this species can be used only under risk of occasional re-humidification. It is not suited for uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification. Sensible to termites attack. The heart
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
3
Internal Growth Stresses
Residual stresses are reported to be absent.
Silica Content
Silica Content: Silica content is negligible. Amounts over 0.05% may affect wood processing. Silica Value: 0.01
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)
0.60
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.66
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
5.6
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
4.3
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-6
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.3
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
905
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
123690
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
561
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
72
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
86
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
536
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
637
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
Slight blunting effect; ordinary tools can be used for sawing and machining.
Machining
Machining of this species is reportedly easy.
Planing
Easy; no particular problems.
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
No particular problem.
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.
Steam Bending
Steam bending is difficult.
Response To Hand Tools
No particular problems.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, boards, frames, steps, panelling, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, luxury furniture, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, faces, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, turned furniture, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boats, boat hulls, boat deck, port storage
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
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
Shipbuilding
- 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Boats
- 56 - Manual de Identificación de Especies Forestales de la Subregión Andina.
Boat Hulls
- 57 - Estadísticas de Aprovechamiento, Exportación y comercialización Nacional de Productos Forestales
Boat Decking
- 59 - Programa Nacional de uso Sostenible de los Bosques e Incremento a las Exportaciones.
Port Storage
- 62 - Estudio Tecnológico de Maderas del Perú (Zona Pucallpa) Vol I
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