TAMBOTI (Spirostachys africana)
Trade Name
Tamboti
Scientific Name
Spirostachys africana Sond.
Family
EUPHORBIACEAE
Common Names
Sandalo africano (Portugal); Tambootie (Uganda); Mtomboti (Uganda); Tambootie (Tanzania); Mtomboti (Tanzania); Tambootie (Kenya); Mtomboti (Kenya); Tambootie (Ethiopia); Mtomboti (Ethiopia); Muconite (Mozambique); Omupapa (Angola)
Scientific Name Synonyms
Stillingia africana (Sond.) Baill.; Excoecaria africana (Sond.) Muell. Arg.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches a height of 12 to 15 m. The bole is straight, fluted, up to 6 m in length. The trunk diameter is 40 to 80 cm.
Natural Habitat
Spirostachys africana occurs in savanna forests and the coastal belt of the tropical zone.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 micras or less (very small). Black-colored deposits in heartwood vessels. Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 more than 20 (very abundant). Simple Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse and/or diffuse in aggregates. Prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. 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. Prismatic crystals in radial alignment in procumbent ray cells (chambered cells). 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
Odor
Pleasant odor.
Color
The sapwood is white, it has a thickness of 2.5 to 5 cm. The heartwood is dark brown, almost black, it is clearly demarcated.
Grain
Wavy; special care is needed when machining in order to obtain satisfying quality surface.
Texture
This species is usually reported to have a fine texture.
Natural Durability
Durable to decay; this species can be utilized without preservative treatment for exterior joinery or similar uses. 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
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Air-seasoning difficult. Kiln-seasoning recommended
Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule
FR-9
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
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
Easy; no particular problems.
Moulding
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Turning
30
Boring
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Mortising
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Nailing
Pre-boring is necessary.
Gluing
Difficult to glue because of the extracts content.
Sanding
Easy to perform; it gives good results.
Polishing
Can be polished without surface preparation.
Response To Hand Tools
Working with hand tools is difficult.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, flooring, parquet, steps, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, luxury furniture, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, turned furniture, cutlery, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts, moldings
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Flooring
- 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Parquet
- 15 - Empire Timbers
Steps
- 17 - Tree Conservation Database
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
Handcraft
- 66 - Maderas latinoamericanas. VII. Caracteristicas anatomicas. propiedades fisicomecanicas, de secado, y tratabilidad de la madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav. Oken.)
Molding
- 79 - Padronização da Nomenclatura Comercial Brasileira das Madeiras Tropicais Amazônicas, Sugestão
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