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PROSOPIS (Prosopis africana)
Trade Name
Prosopis
Scientific Name
Prosopis africana Taub.
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Ken (Senegal); Ir (Senegal); Pau carvao (Guinea-Bissau); Guele (Guinea); Sama-nere (Burkina Faso); Pau carvao (Equatorial Guinea); Zingili; Zamturi; Yoruba charcoal wood; Yan; Ubwa; Sanga; Sanchi lati; Pung-un-nung; Prekese; Pau carvao; Pato; Pangi; Nazari; Nanzili; Langjina; Langbung; Langbina; Kpaye; Kpanena; Kokara; Kohi; Kirya; Kiriya; Kaki; Ir; Guele; Dwadata; Akwiye; Akiye; Akaka; Abusurung
Scientific Name Synonyms
Prosopis oblonga Benth.; Prosopis lanceolata Benth.; Coulteria africana Guill. & Perr.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches a height of 20 to 30 m, with trunk diameters from 70 to 100 cm. The bole is slightly buttressed, often crooked and low-branched.
Natural Habitat
Prosopis africana is common in savanna regions.
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). Brown-colored deposits in heartwood vessels. Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates Occasionally axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Non-crystals in axial parenchyma cells. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). 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
Odor
Fragrant odor.
Color
The sapwood is pale yellow or white brown. The heartwood is dull yellow-brown to rich dark red-brown. after drying, heartwood acquires a dark wine-red tint, it is clearly demarcated.
Grain
Straight or highly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.
Texture
Texture is reported to be fine to medium.
Luster
The wood luster is reported to be rather low.
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
Silica Content
Silica Content: Silica content is negligible. Amounts over 0.05% may affect wood processing. Silica Value: 0
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
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Drying is slow but without difficulties. Drying Defects: Risks of checks.
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1152
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
795
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
115
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
1394
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
1362
Workability
Sawing
Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
Not suitable for veneering.
Sliced Veneer
Not suitable for veneering.
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. It is recommended to use special tools for cutting.
Planing
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Moulding
Easy; no particular problems.
Boring
Easy; no particular problems.
Mortising
Easy; no particular problems.
Nailing
Pre-boring is necessary.
Gluing
Difficult to glue because of high density.
Sanding
Difficult to obtain very good results because of interlocked grain.
Polishing
Can be polished without surface preparation.
Response To Hand Tools
Working with hand tools is difficult.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
EXTERIOR GENERAL, poles, stakes posts, crossties, HOUSING GENERAL, parquet, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, SPORTS, TOOLS, tool handles, agricultural tools, PACKING, CONTAINERS, cooperage, truck bodies, truck flooring, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boats, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts
Exterior General
- 1 - Tabela de resultados de ensaios fisicos e mecanicos
Poles
- 3 - Estudo dendrologico e determinacao das caracteristicas fisicas e mecanicas do genipapo (Genipa americana)
Stake Posts
- 5 - Propriedades fisicas e mecanicas da madeira e do contraplacado de Pinus elliottii
Crossties
- 8 - Maderas latinoamericas. III, Podocarpus standleyi ,Podocarpus oleifolius, Drims granadensis, Magnolia poasana y Didymopanax pittieri
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Parquet
- 15 - Empire Timbers
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Cabinet
- 24 - Empire Timbers
Sports
- 38 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Agricultural Tools
- 44 - Atlas of Peruvian Woods
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Containers
- 50 - Properties of imported tropical woods
Cooperage
- 51 - Recopilacion de propiedades mecanicas de maderas creciendo en Chile
Truck Body
- 53 - Timbers of the New World
Truck Flooring
- 54 - Bulletin of the Government Forest Experiment Station N.157: Identification of Tropical Woods
Shipbuilding
- 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Boats
- 56 - Manual de Identificación de Especies Forestales de la Subregión Andina.
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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