ARAMON (Maranthes glabra)
Trade Name
Aramon
Scientific Name
Maranthes glabra Prance
Family
CHRYSOBALANACEAE
Common Names
Oghoyé (Nigeria); Aramon (Côte d`Ivoire); Ekoulebang (Gabon); essou (Congo); Oku (Central African Republic); n'ko (Cameroon); Bokanga (Cameroon); Asila (Cameroon); Aramon
Scientific Name Synonyms
Parinari glabra Oliv.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches a height of 40 m, with trunk diameters from 130 up to 200 cm. The bole may be bent or straight, not always cylindrical, occasionally twisted or gnarled (Nigeria). The bole length ranges from 10 to 20 m.
Natural Habitat
Maranthes glabra occurs in dense riparian forests, often on sandy soils.
Non Timber Uses
Contains some resins or extracts which could pose problems when machining or finishing.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Vessels of two distinct diameter classes, wood not ring-porous. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 200 micras or more (large). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 micras or less (very small) Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse and/or diffuse in aggregates. Axial parenchyma in discontinuous tangential lines. Helical thickenings in axial parenchyma cells present. Non-crystals in axial parenchyma cells. Over 9 cells per parenchyma strand. Axial pare Rays non-storied. Rays exclusively uniseriate. Silica bodies in the ray cells. All ray cells upright and/or square. Non-septate fibers. Fibers with distinctly bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The sapwood is yellowish, it has a thickness of 3 cm. The heartwood is pinkish brown, it is clearly demarcated.
Grain
Straight or slightly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.
Texture
The wood is reported to have a coarse texture.
Luster
Luster is usually low.
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. Resistant to termites attack.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
3
Resistance To Impregnation
Difficult to treat with only a low penetration of the preservative products.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.88
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
1.02
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
11.5
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
6.4
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: It is reported to dry at a moderate to difficult rate. Boards of 13 mm and 38 mm thick take respectively about 2.5 months and 4 months to air dry from the green condition. Drying Defects: Risk of warping and checking. Stain may be moderate during drying. Kiln Schedules: Schedule proposed for Casuarina.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-12
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.8
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1480
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
225677
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
994
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
155
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
107
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
1313
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
1299
Workability
Sawing
Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
Not suitable for veneering.
Sliced Veneer
Not suitable for veneering.
Blunting Effect
Severe blunting effect; stellited blades for sawing and carbide tools for machining are recommended.
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.
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
Needs pre-coating.
Response To Hand Tools
Working with hand tools is difficult.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
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