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Blunting Effect
Boring
Comments
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Distribution Overview
Drying Defects
Environmental Profile
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Mortising
Moulding
Nailing
Natural Durability
Natural Growth Defects
Numerical Data
Odor
Planing
Polishing
Product Sources
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Staining
Strength Properties
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Terminalia brassii

Trade Name
Brown terminalia

Family Name
Combretaceae

Wood Image 1

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Aghomba, Brown terminalia, Chasemiich, Dafo, Esemi, Ghomba, Homba, Kil, Kopika, Kung, Maranuri, Nuli, Peo, Pepeo, Sau, Swamp oak, Tanimbuca, Tilautaea

Regions of Distribution
Oceania and S.E. Asia

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands

Common Uses
Balusters, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Coffins, Construction, Core Stock, Decks, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Door, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Figured veneer, Flooring, Framing, Furniture, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Moldings, Paneling , Paneling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Shakes, Sheathing, Shingles, Siding, Stairworks, Stringers, Structural plywood, Trimming, Turnery, Utility plywood, Veneer, Wainscotting

Environmental Profile
Status has not been officially assessed


Distribution Overview
The species occurs in Papua New Guinea.

Heartwood Color
Brown
Yellow
Orange
Black
Pale brown
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Greenish to greyish
Yellowish
Brown


Sapwood Color
Green/Grey
Brown
Yellow
Paler than heartwood
White to yellow
Well defined
Straw colored
Pinkish


Grain
Interlocked
Wavy
Closed
Figure
Even
Spiral
Crossed
Straight
Distinct (figure)
Rippled (figure)

Interlocked
Wavy
Spiral
Straight
Rippled figure
Distinct figure


Texture
Medium
Coarse
Medium coarse to coarse
Medium
Fine to medium


Luster
Dull


Natural Growth Defects
Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive


Natural Durability
Very durable
Resistant to marine borers
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to insect attack
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log

Reports from Papua New Guinea rate the wood as non-durable and should not be used in exterior applications unless treated with a preservative.

Odor
Has a grape-like odor


Kiln Schedules
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid


Drying Defects
Splitting
Checking
Slight twist/warp
Slight surface checking
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate cupping


Kiln Drying Rate
Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 0-10 m
Tree height is 10-20 m
Tree height is 20-30 m


Product Sources

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory

The timber is similar in characteristics to Okoume (Aucoumea klaineana ), Limba (Terminalia superba ), and Obeche (Triplochiton screloxylon ), all from Africa.

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe
Minimal dulling effect on cutting tools
Blunting effect on machining is moderate


Boring
Moderately easy


Cutting Resistance
Fairly easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moderate gluing properties
Good gluing properties


Mortising
Difficult to mortise


Moulding
Difficult to mould


Nailing
Pre-Boring Recommended
Good nailing characteristics


Planing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Difficult to plane
Responds well to most ordinary tools in machining operations

The timber responds generally well to ordinary tools in planing, turning, boring, and most woodworking operations.

Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Heartwood is resistant


Response to Hand Tools
Moderate working qualities
Difficult to machine
Responds well to hand tools


Turning
Poor results
Good results


Veneering Qualities
There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Moderately easy to veneer
Good gluing qualities


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


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory


Strength Properties
Max. crushing strength = medium
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Soft
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Medium density
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Dents or scratches easily
Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low

The species has medium bending strength in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It is closer in strength to Mahogany than either Teak or White oak, which have higher bending strength. It is weak in compression parallel to grain (maximum crushing strength), and is inferior to Mahogany

Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength682210678psi
Crushing Strength505936psi
Density29lbs/ft3
Hardness731lbs
Impact Strength3340inches
Maximum Crushing Strength35035959psi
Shearing Strength1230psi
Static Bending38816625psi
Stiffness126614871000 psi
Toughness70inch-lbs
Weight2825lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage5%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength479750kg/cm2
Crushing Strength3565kg/cm2
Density464kg/m3
Hardness331kg
Impact Strength83101cm
Maximum Crushing Strength246418kg/cm2
Shearing Strength86kg/cm2
Static Bending272465kg/cm2
Stiffness891041000 kg/cm2
Toughness80cm-kg
Weight448400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%

References
Bolza, E. and N. H. Kloot. 1966. The Mechanical Properties of 81 New Guinea Timbers. Technological Paper No. 41. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.

Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1976,The Mechanical Properties of 81 New Guinea Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Building Res. Tec.Paper (2nd series) 11

Bolza, E.,1975,Properties and Uses of 175 Timber Species from Papua New Guinea and West,Irian,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Building Research Report,no.34

Bolza, E.,1981,The Mechanical properties of 33 Solomon Islands timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Building Research. Technical Paper (2nd series) No.37

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World, No. 8 Australasia,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Budgen, B.,1981,Shrinkage and density of some Australian and South-East Asian Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Div. building Res. Tech Paper(2nd Series) No.38

EcoTimber International, San Francisco, California. Personal Communication, 1993.

Eddowes, P.J. 1977. Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea - Their Properties and Uses. Forest Products Research Center, Office of Forests, Department of Primary Industry, Papua New Guinea.

Eddowes, P.J.,1977,Commercial Timbers of Papua New Guinea: Their Properties and Uses,Hebano Press, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

Kraemer, J.H.,1951,Trees of the Western Pacific Region,West Lafayette, Indiana U.S.A.

Papua New Guinea Department of Forests,1972,New Horizons,Forestry in Papua New Guinea,Jacaranda Press PTY Ltd, Brisbane

Pleydell, G.J.,1970,Timbers of the British Solomon Islands,United Africa Company (Timber) Ltd, London

Solomon Islands,1976,Solomon Islands Timbers - Major Species,For Div. Min. Nat. Resources, Honiara, Timber Booklet 1

The Ecological Trading Company Limited (ETC, Newcastle upon Tyre, United Kingdom.