EBONY (Diospyros crassiflora)
Trade Name
Ebony
Scientific Name
Diospyros crassiflora Hiern
Family
EBENACEAE
Common Names
Ebene (Benin); Ebène (France); Ebène (Belgium)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Diospyros evila Pierre ex A. Chev.; Diospyros ampullacea Gurke
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree may reach a height of 15 m. The bole is short, up to 10 m, straight and fluted. The trunk diameter may attain 100 cm.
Natural Habitat
Diospyros crassiflora grows in semi-deciduous forests. It is a gregarious species found in almost pure stands near riverbanks.
Natural Distribution
From Nigeria to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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). Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 6 to 10 (medium). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pit Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse and/or diffuse in aggregates. Occasionally axial parenchyma in discontinuous tangential lines. Prismatic crystals in short chains in chambered axial parenchyma cells. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. Rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Rays non-storied. Rays exclusively uniseriate. Occasionally prismatic crystals in the ray cells. Heterogeneous rays and/or multiseriate heterogeneous rays.
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Wood Macro Photo Tangential Plane
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Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section
Availability
Cites Status
CITES III
General Wood Description
Color
The sapwood is pale brown to reddish, eventually with black spots, it has a thickness of up to 15 cm. The heartwood is uniform jet-black or black brown or dark brown with black streaks, it is clearly demarcated.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
1
Grain
Straight; grain has no particular influence on drying, machining and finishing qualities.
Texture
The wood is typically fine in texture.
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
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)
0.90
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
1.05
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
12.5
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
10.0
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Initial moisture contents may be very high. 25mmboard can be kiln dries from the greeen with a mild schedule. but 50mm stock should undergo preliminary air drying. Drying Defects: Collapse, insiginificiant, in fully air dried material, may occur in kiln drying but is largely over come by reconditioning. Presteaming should not be undertaker as it accentuates collapse and has no significiant effect on drying rates. Kiln Schedules: 25mm backsawn board kiln dry in 5days, quarter sawn stack takes 8-9 days from green. to 12% moisture content. If collapse present, at 4-6 hours reconditioning treatment is advised after kiln-drying.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-13
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.3
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1467
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
126356
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
540
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. Possible difficulties caused by interlocked grain are reported.
Planing
Rather difficult; special tools are needed.
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 high density.
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
Working with hand tools is difficult.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, luxury furniture, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, turned furniture, cutlery, lasts, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
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
Other & Musical Instruments
- 63 - Madeiras do Brazil II
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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