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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Odor
Painting
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Routing & Recessing
Sanding
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Staudtia stipitata

Trade Name
Niove

Family Name
Myristicaceae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Ang-menga-menga, Bocapi, Bokapi, Bope, Bope bambale, Bosasa, Bufoki, Camashi, Ekop, Kamashi, M'bonda, M'boun, Mbon, Mboun, Memenga, Memengue, Menga menga, Menhunga, Mogoubi, Molanga, Mougoubi, Muingi, Niove, Nkafi, Okopi, Oropa, Somye menga, Sunzu, Susu menga, Susumenga, Wanga

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Zaire

Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building, Brush backs & handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Handles: general, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Ladders, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Oars, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
This large forest tree grows in the lowland rainforests from Nigeria to Zaire in Africa.

Heartwood Color
Red
Brown
Yellow
Orange
White
Purple
Black
Pink
Reddish brown
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Brown
Red
Yellowish brown
Orange brown
Dark brown streaks


Sapwood Color
White
Yellow
Green/Grey
White to yellow
Yellow - pale
Well defined
Pinkish
Paler than heartwood
Brown - orange

May be up to 4 inches (10 cm) in width.

Grain
Straight
Even
Figure
Weak (figure)

Straight
Weak figure


Texture
Coarse
Medium
Fine
Fine to medium
Very fine


Luster
Slightly lustrous
Occasionally oily


Natural Durability
Susceptible to insect attack
Moderately durable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Resistant to termites
Durable
Perishable
Resistant to powder post beetles
Non-durable
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Very durable
Durable
Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Well suited for exterior applications
Weathering properties are excellent
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Heartwood susceptible to marine borer attack
Heartwood is very resistant to decay and termite attack


Odor
Has a taste
Spicy scent


Toxicity
Dermatitic effects


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed


Drying Defects
Splitting
Distortion
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Collapse
Checking
Extension of Existing Shakes
Ring Shakes
Moderate surface checking
Slight twist/warp
Slight end splitting
End-checking is slight


Ease of Drying
Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Slowly
Thick Stock Requires Care
Requires special attention
Requires carefully controlled drying to prevent degrade
Moderate
Easy
Dries slowly


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries slowly
Very slow
Drying rate is slow


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is not buttressed
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical
Bole/stem form is fluted


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
Bole length is 20-30 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 40-50 m


Product Sources
The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced frequently but exported only occasionally and in low quantities.

Comments
Bark contains clear sap which turns rapidly to reddish-brown

General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Moderate
Medium effect
Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe


Boring
Fairly easy to very easy
Easy


Carving
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy
Tungsten-Carbibe tipped cutters and/ or a narrow pitch are recommended
Slowly but fairly easily
Band and frame saws are easy to use


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Difficult to glue
Easy to glue
Surface preperation improves gluing


Mortising
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to mortise
Finishes well


Moulding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to mould


Movement in Service
Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement
Small
Stable
Medium


Nailing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Pre-Boring Recommended
Possible if prebored
Difficult to nail
Thin boards are prone to split
Nailing properties are rated as moderate
Holds nails well
Easy to nail


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Easy to plane
Planes well, to a good finish
Good planing properties


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is resistant
Heartwood is highly resistant
Material accepts creosote to use in marine applications
Highly resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Easy to machine
Yields a smooth, clean finish
Moderate working qualities
Difficult to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Sanding
The sanding finish is generally good
Good sanding finish
Easy to sand


Screwing
Pre-boring recommended
Relatively easy to screw
Pre-boring recommended
Possible if prebored


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results
Easy to turn


Veneering Qualities
Suitable for peeling
Difficult to veneer
Veneers easily
Veneers moderately easy
Suitable for slicing
Bolt preparation requires steaming
Suitable for slicing
No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Easy to cut


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results
Very poor


Painting
Poor results


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Surface Preparation
Satisfactory results
Good results


Staining
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Surface Preparation
Finish is generally satisfactory


Varnishing
Good results


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft.
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Max. crushing strength = very high
Max. crushing strength = high
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Hardness (side grain) = very hard
Bending strength (MOR) = very high