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DOUSSIé (Afzelia africana)
Trade Name
Doussié
Scientific Name
Afzelia africana Smith
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Kpendei (Sierra Leone); Pau conta (Guinea-Bissau); Lingue (Guinea); Lingue (Burkina Faso); Afzelia (United States of America); N'kokongo (Congo); M'banga (Cameroon); N'kokongo (Angola); Yoruba bilinga; Yada; Wokpa; Upa; Rhodesian mahogany; Pepe; Pau konta; Papoa; Papawu; Papao-baum; Opapeh; Opapao; Olombi; Ngboro; Meli; Mboro; Mbokora; Mahogany bean tree; Mahogany bean; Liwamba; Lengue; Kukpalik; Kuanguli; Kpendi-kpoli; Kpendi-guli; Kpendi-deli; Kpaliga; Kpalga; Kpa-kpa; Kontah; Kinkalaga; Kawo; Kapalaga; Kakala; Hol; Gongo; Gbleteo; Gbende; Gayohi; Gayo; Chanfuta (Portugal); Afzelia (Germany); Afzelia (United Kingdom); Chanfuta (United States of America); Mbembakofi (Tanzania); Mkora (Tanzania); Chanfuta (Mozambique); Mussacossa (Mozambique); Uvala (Angola); Bolengu (Zaire); N`kokongo (Angola); N`kokongo (Congo); Doussie (Cameroon); M`banga (Cameroon); Aligna (Nigeria); Apa (Nigeria); Papao (Ghana); Azodau (Côte d`Ivoire); Lingue (Côte d`Ivoire); Lingue (Senegal); Pauconta (Guinea-Bissau); Fok; Douissie; Counter wood; Bodjembo; Bilinga; Beyo; Balawo-kudu; Balawao-kudu; Bachi; Baa; Azza; Ayan; Ariyan; Arachi; Alinyan; Akpela; Akpalata; Aja; Ahanta; Adya; Adja
Scientific Name Synonyms
Intsia africana (Sm.) Kuntze
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The total length varies from 26 to 40 m, with trunk diameter of 100 to 170 cm and more. The bole is clear, it attains 10 to 16 m in length, some large irregular buttresses are sometimes present.
Natural Habitat
Afzelia africana occurs in the dense evergreen forest, but also common in the savanna and coastal forests of East Africa. The tree reaches its best development on moist sites. It is known or inferred that unless the species is subject to strict regulatio
Natural Distribution
West, Central and East Africa.
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). Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pits Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform. 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 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 whitish to pale yellow, it has a thickness of 2 to 5 cm. The heartwood is reddish brown, it is clearly demarcated.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
4
Grain
Straight or slightly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.
Texture
The texture of the wood is frequently coarse.
Natural Durability
Very durable to decay; without preservative treatment. This species is especially suited for all the uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification. Resistant to termites attack. Heartwood is resistant to Lyctus attacks.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
1
Internal Growth Stresses
Residual stresses are reported to be absent.
Silica Content
Silica Content: This timber is reported to have a negligible silica content. Silica contents 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)
0.7040082525
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.79
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
4.2
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.0
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-6
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.4
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1256
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
154255
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
733
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
103
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
83
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
782
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
860
Workability
Sawing
Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.
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
It needs powerful tools for processing.
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 the extracts content.
Sanding
Easy to perform; it gives good results.
Polishing
Needs pre-coating.
Steam Bending
This species can be used for steam bending.
Response To Hand Tools
Working with hand tools is difficult.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, boards, flooring, parquet, frames, steps, panelling, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, luxury furniture, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, turned furniture, CONTAINERS, cooperage, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boats, boat hulls, boat deck, port storage, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, shingle
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
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
Cooperage
- 51 - Recopilacion de propiedades mecanicas de maderas creciendo en Chile
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
Shingles
- 77 - Amazonian Timbers, Characteristics and Utilization Volume I; Tapajós National Forest
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