SOBU (Cleistopholis glauca)
Trade Name
Sobu
Scientific Name
Cleistopholis glauca Pierre
Family
ANNONACEAE
Common Names
otu (Nigeria); Sobou (Côte d`Ivoire); Ovok (Gabon); Avom (Gabon); Lukunzu (Congo); Ovok (Cameroon); Avom (Cameroon); Sobu; Sobou; Otu; Lukunzu; Avom; Ovok
Scientific Name Synonyms
Cleistopholis grandiflora De Wild.; Cleistopholis bequaertii De Wild.; Cleistopholis bequaerti De Wild.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The base of the tree is slightly thickened. The bole is straight and cylindrical, may be up to 20 m in length. The trunk diameter attains 80 cm.
Natural Habitat
Cleistopholis glauca occurs in evergreen forests, mainly along riverbanks, in dense forest, in semi-deciduous forest and in secondary formations.
Natural Distribution
West Africa, from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Plantations Available?
Considered as a promising species for plantation. The duration of the rotation is 15 to 20 years, to reach 60 cm in diameter.
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 reticulate. Non-crystals in axial parenchyma cells. Axial parenchyma bands under 4 per mm. Rays less than 4 per mm (rare). Rays non-storied. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Heterogeneous rays and/or multiseriate heterogeneous rays. Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
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Wood Macro Photo Radial Plane
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Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The heartwood is whitish, it is not clearly demarcated.
COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)
6
Grain
Straight or slightly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.
Texture
This species is usually reported to have a coarse texture.
Luster
The surface of the wood is naturally low 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. Heartwood is sensible to Lyctus attacks.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Internal Growth Stresses
Residual growth stresses are absent.
Silica Content
Silica Content: Silica content is negligible. Amounts 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)
0.34
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.35
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
7.5
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.4
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-2
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
2.2
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
556
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
100692
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
285
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
29
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
41
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
151
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
232
Workability
Sawing
It is easy to saw.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
Not suitable for veneering.
Sliced Veneer
Not suitable for veneering.
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
Easy to perform but low nails holding.
Gluing
Glues well if basic gluing technical rules are followed.
Sanding
Particular care is needed to avoid woolly aspect of the surface.
Polishing
Needs pre-coating.
Response To Hand Tools
No particular problems.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
FURNITURE AND CABINETS, common furniture, PACKING, light packing, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, door core, moldings, scale model
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Furniture, Common
- 23 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Light Packing
- 46 - ECUADOR, Inventario y Aprovechamiento de los Bosques del Sur Ecuatoriano
Door Cores
- 76 - Descripción General y Anatómica de 105 Maderas del Grupo Andino.
Molding
- 79 - Padronização da Nomenclatura Comercial Brasileira das Madeiras Tropicais Amazônicas, Sugestão
Scale Models
- 83 - Algunas caracteristicas fisicomecanicas de la madera de tres especies de la cordillera NeoVolcanica
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