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KOTO (Pterygota macrocarpa)
Trade Name
Koto
Scientific Name
Pterygota macrocarpa K.Schum.
Family
STERCULIACEAE
Common Names
Koto (Côte d`Ivoire); Ikame (Zaire); Anatolia (Germany); Pterygota (United Kingdom); African pterygota (United Kingdom); Ikema (Zaire); Ake (Gabon); Kakende (Central African Republic); Poroposo (Nigeria); Kefe (Nigeria); Awari (Ghana); Kyere (Ghana); Koto
Scientific Name Synonyms
Pterygota cordifolia A. Chev.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree may reach a height of 40 m. The bole is rather straight and cylindrical, clear to 13 to 26 m in length, buttressed to 2 m. The trunk diameter attains 70 to 130 cm.
Natural Habitat
Pterygota macrocarpa is a common tree of dry forests. It is common in tropical evergreen and mixed deciduous forests.
Natural Distribution
West 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). Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel Axial parenchyma in continuous tangential lines or fine bands. Axial parenchyma storied. Prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. Rays less than 4 per mm (rare). Rays non-storied. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Prismatic crystals in the ray cells. Heterogeneous rays and/or multiseriate heterogeneous rays. Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The heartwood is creamy white, it is little or not demarcated. The silver figure is large.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
7
Grain
Straight or slightly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.
Texture
This species is reported to have a fine to medium texture.
Luster
This wood is frequently high in luster.
Natural Durability
Not durable; important risks of decay attacks at any processing step, from logs up to final products. It must receive preservative treatment. Sensible to termites attack. The heartwood is sensible to Lyctus attacks.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Internal Growth Stresses
No residual stresses are reported in this species.
Silica Content
Silica Content: It is reported to have a negligible amount of silica. Contents over 0.05% may affect wood processing. Silica Value: 0.01
Resistance To Impregnation
Easy to treat with a full penetration of the preservative products using vacuum-pressure method.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.54
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.59
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
8.8
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.9
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Drying is rather slow and sometimes difficult to perform. Drying Defects: Risks of checks and distortions. Kiln Schedules: The kiln schedule has been tested.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-7
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
2.3
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
981
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
133923
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
547
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
70
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
67
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
429
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
533
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
Easy; no particular problems.
Boring
Easy; no particular problems.
Mortising
Easy; no particular problems.
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, common furniture, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, faces, Decorative veneer, PACKING, heavy packing, pallets, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts, door core, coffin, moldings, cementboard
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, Common
- 23 - Handbook of Hardwoods
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
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Heavy Packing
- 47 - Arvores Brasileiras
Pallets
- 48 - The strength properties of timbers
Handcraft
- 66 - Maderas latinoamericanas. VII. Caracteristicas anatomicas. propiedades fisicomecanicas, de secado, y tratabilidad de la madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav. Oken.)
Door Cores
- 76 - Descripción General y Anatómica de 105 Maderas del Grupo Andino.
Coffin
- 78 - Amazonian Timbers for the International Market
Molding
- 79 - Padronização da Nomenclatura Comercial Brasileira das Madeiras Tropicais Amazônicas, Sugestão
Cementboard
- 81 - Madeiras da Amazônia: descrição do lenho de 40 espécies ocorrentes na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós
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