AFRORMOSIA-ASSAMELA (Pericopsis elata)
Trade Name
Afrormosia-Assamela
Scientific Name
Pericopsis elata Van Meeuv.
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Assamela (Côte d`Ivoire); Yellow satinwood; Satinwood; Redbark; Golden afrormosia; Devils tree; Bonsamdua; Bohalala; Benin satinwood; Ayin; Awawai; Assemela; Asamela; Oleo pardo (France); Bohala (Zaire); Mohole (Zaire); Assamela (France); Ole (Zaire); Obang (Central African Republic); Obang (Cameroon); Kokrodua (Ghana); Afrormosia
Scientific Name Synonyms
Afrormosia elata Harms
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches a height of 50 m. The bole is somewhat irregular, clear to 30 to 32 m in length and buttressed to a height of 2.5 m and then fluted. The trunk diameter attains from 100 to 200 cm.
Natural Habitat
Pericopsis elata is a gregarious species, it grows in both wet and dry forests. CITES, Appendix II : The export of this species shall require the prior grant and presentation of an export permit. It is known or inferred that the harvesting of specimens fr
Natural Distribution
West Africa, mainly in Ghana and Cote d`Ivoire.
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). Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 10 to 20 (abundant). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pits Occasionally axial parenchyma confluent. Axial parenchyma confluent unilateral paratracheal. Axial parenchyma storied. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays 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.
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Wood Macro Photo Radial Plane
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Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section
Availability
Cites Status
CITES II
General Wood Description
Odor
Light and pleasant odor.
Color
The sapwood is pale yellow brown, it has a thickness of 2.5 cm. The heartwood is yellow-brown darkening on exposure-dark veins, it is clearly demarcated. The silver figure is fine.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
4
Grain
Straight or sometimes interlocked. Usually interlocked grain is absent or very slight, without any effect on further processing operations.
Texture
Fine texture is reported in this species.
Luster
Luster is usually low.
Natural Durability
Because of variable resistance to decay, this species can be only considered as durable to decay; it can be utilized without preservative treatment for exterior joinery or similar uses. Resistant to termites attack. Heartwood is resistant to Lyctus attack
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
2
Internal Growth Stresses
For this species no growth stresses are reported.
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: 0.02
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)
0.66
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.74
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
5.9
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.2
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Drying is fairly easy; some difficulties could occur when drying too fast. Drying Defects: No particular risks of drying defects, subject to normal drying conditions. Kiln Schedules: The kiln schedule has been tested.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-7
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.8
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
950
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
133923
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
650
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
88
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
90
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
675
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
765
Workability
Sawing
It is moderately easy to saw.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
Suitable for slicing.
Sliced Veneer
Suitable for slicing.
Blunting Effect
Moderate blunting effect; stellited blades for sawing and carbide tools for machining are advised.
Machining
Possible difficulties caused by interlocked grain are reported.
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
Difficult to glue because of high density.
Sanding
Easy to perform; it gives good results.
Polishing
Can be polished without surface preparation.
Steam Bending
This species can be used for steam bending.
Response To Hand Tools
No particular problems.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, boards, flooring, parquet, frames, steps, panelling, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, luxury furniture, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, turned furniture, cutlery, lasts, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boat deck, port storage, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
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
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
Shipbuilding
- 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
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
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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