MUSIZI (Maesopsis eminii)
Trade Name
Musizi
Scientific Name
Maesopsis eminii Engl.
Family
RHAMNACEAE
Common Names
Ndunga (Zaire); N'kanguelé (Gabon); N'kanguelé (Cameroon); Musizi (Uganda); Musizi (Kenya); Onwa; Omuside; Omuhumula; Nsira; Nkangvele; Ndunga; Mutere; Musizi; Muhumula; Mbarika; Igilogbon; Essenge; Esenge; Dzotrubo; Bu-ay-wreh; Awuru; manasati (Côte d`Ivoire); Muhunya (Kenya); Muguruka (Uganda); Muhongera (Uganda); Musira (Tanzania)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Maesopsis berchemioides (Pierre) A. Chev.; Karlea berchemioides Pierre
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches a height of 30 to 40 m. The bole is usually straight, clear and cylindrical to 20 m in length, with buttresses or root swellings short and blunt. The trunk diameter attains 130 to 150 cm.
Natural Habitat
Maesopsis eminii is typically a forest-edge species.
Natural Distribution
Occurs in Western, Central and Eastern Africa along the equator.
Plantations Available?
Considered as a promising species for plantation. Commonly used for planting in Dem. Rep. of the Congo. The duration of the rotation is 25 years, to reach 50 cm in diameter.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 150 to 200 micras (medium). Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. 5 to 8 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). Occasionally septate fibers present. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
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Wood Macro Photo Tangential Plane
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Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The sapwood is white, it has a thickness of up to 5 cm. The heartwood is bright yellow-green or green-brown, turning to a pale golden brown on exposure, it is clearly demarcated.
Grain
Straight; grain has no particular influence on drying, machining and finishing qualities.
Texture
The wood is typically coarse in texture.
Luster
The wood surface is moderate in luster.
Natural Durability
Slightly durable to decay. This species needs preservative treatment for uses with risks of occasional re-humidification. It is not suited for uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification. Moderately resistant to termites attack.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
6
Internal Growth Stresses
For this species no growth stresses are reported.
Silica Content
Silica Content: It is reported to have a negligible amount of silica. Contents over 0.05% may affect wood processing. Silica Value: 0.02
Resistance To Impregnation
Moderately easy to treat with a partial penetration of the preservative products.
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.48
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.52
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
4.9
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.0
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Drying is moderately difficult to difficult; special care is systematically needed. Drying Defects: Risks of checks and distortions. Kiln Schedules: Schedule proposed as a reference by comparison with well known species taking into account to the general technological behavior of this species.
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-7
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.7
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
768
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
112430
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
411
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
48
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
52
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
336
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
439
Workability
Sawing
It is easy to saw.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
Suitable for peeling after heat treatment.
Sliced Veneer
Suitable for peeling after heat treatment.
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
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Boring
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Mortising
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Nailing
No particular problem.
Gluing
Glues well if basic gluing technical rules are followed.
Sanding
Easy to perform; it gives good results.
Polishing
Needs pre-coating.
Response To Hand Tools
No particular problems.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, boards, frames, panelling, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, common furniture, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, cores, PACKING, light packing, pallets, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, matches, door core, coffin, moldings
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
Frames
- 16 - Woods of the World
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
Cores
- 27 - Embassy of Brazil in Japan
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Light Packing
- 46 - ECUADOR, Inventario y Aprovechamiento de los Bosques del Sur Ecuatoriano
Pallets
- 48 - The strength properties of timbers
Matches
- 71 - Proprietes physiques et mecaniques des bois tropicaux, premier supplement
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
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