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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Resistance to Splitting Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Vitex doniana Trade Name Black plum Family Name Verbenaceae Synonyms Vitex cienkowski, Vitex cuneata Common Names Black plum, Ewelo, Heue, Kalembe, Kurnyuk, Kutufingo, Ledo, Lubei, Meru oak, Mfudu, Mfuru, Mgwobe, Mkhulu, Mkunungu, Muholu, Muhomozi, Munyamazi, Mutahuru, Omufuto, Owelo, Oyalo, Oyelo, Vitex Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Kenya, Mozambique, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Veneer Heartwood Color Brown Red Pink Purple White to cream Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish Sapwood Color White Yellow Red Color not distinct from heartwood White to yellow Grain Wavy Straight Interlocked Closed Even Figure Weak (figure) Wavy Straight Interlocked Weak figure Texture Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Fine Medium Coarse Luster Medium High Natural Durability Non-resistant to termites Durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Moderately durable Perishable Moderately durable Perishable Non durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Heartwood susceptible to attack by decay fungi Odor Has an odor Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Dermatitic effects Kiln Schedules UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Distortion Collapse Checking Internal Honeycombing Possible Moderate collapse and honeycombing No surface checking No end splitting should be expected Moderate cupping Severe twisting/warping Severe cupping Ease of Drying Slowly Fairly Easy Rapidly Thick Stock Requires Care Moderately Difficult to Difficult Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is fluted Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 30-40 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Sapwood width is 5-10 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Bark width is 25-30 mm Tree height is 40-50 m Certified Source Certified Source Blunting Effect Little Moderate Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Good finishing results Easy to mould Movement in Service Small Stable Nailing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Holds satisfactorily Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Planes to a satisfactory finish Easy to plane Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Sapwood is moderately resistant Resistance to Splitting Good Satisfactory Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Routing yields good results Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor results Veneering Qualities Easy to cut There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Painting Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Poor results Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Radial = small Compression strength (parallel to grain) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 4310 6606 psi Density 37 lbs/ft3 Hardness 995 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 2139 3916 psi Shearing Strength 1052 psi Stiffness 1017 1199 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 7 10 inch-lbs/in3 Weight 36 28 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 303 464 kg/cm2 Density 592 kg/m3 Hardness 451 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 150 275 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 73 kg/cm2 Stiffness 71 84 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.49 0.70 cm-kg/cm3 Weight 576 448 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % References Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda France - C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France Gotz, E.,1983,Timber trees of the Gambia,Stiftung Walderhaltung in Afrika and Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Forst-,und Holzwirtschaft Palgrave, K.C.,1977,Trees of Southern Africa,Cape Town South Africa Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7 Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tanzania Forestry Department,1966,Timbers of Tanganyika - Vitex doniana,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi - Timbers of,Tanganyika