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Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Natural Durability Numerical Data Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Size		Scientific Name Acacia polyacantha Trade Name Acacia catechu Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Acacia campylantha Common Names Acacia catechu, African catechu, African cutch, Chikwiku, Clutch tree, Confectioners gum, Ede, Egirigiryoi, Falcons claw acacia, Farichin haramata, Farichin shafu, Fatarlahi, Ghambwe, Gomanchein, Gorpila, Gourga, Hook thorn, Karkara, Karki, Karo, Kayar rakumi, Kibere, Kumbarshafo, Mubaimondora, Mugu, Mukoka, Mukongoliko, Ngobe, Odurakot, Shanab, Umpumpu, White thorn Regions of Distribution Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] India, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Charcoal, Flooring, Fuelwood, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Particleboard, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Tool handles Distribution Overview Widespread in tropical Africa from the Gambia to Eritrea, Ethiopia, in the north, to the Transvaal in the south. A subspecies, polyacantha, occurs in India. A. polyacantha is suspected to have been introduced from the Indian sub-continent.in the olden days, and now completely naturalized. In the Sudanian and Guinean savannas, restricted to well watered places in the South Sahel ecozone, around ponds and in the bottom of fossil valleys with a shallow water-table, but sensitive to water-logging. Not a gregarious nor very common species. A. polyacantha is a tree of the sub-humid to humid African tropics with a wide distribution from South Senegal to Ethiopia and East Africa. Heartwood Color Brown Black Purple Red Pink Reddish brown Pale red to pink Dark brown Brown Sapwood Color White Yellow White to yellow Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Coarse Coarse Natural Durability Durable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Susceptible to insect attack Durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Ease of Drying Slowly Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Bole length is 0-10 m Tree height is 20-30 m Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Difficult to plane Easy to plane Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Polishing Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 13576 20956 psi Density 47 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 9945 psi Weight 46 38 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 954 1473 kg/cm2 Density 753 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 485 699 kg/cm2 Weight 737 608 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % 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 Brenan, J.P.M., Greenway, P.J.,1949,Check-lists of the Forest Trees and Shrubs of the British Empire,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford No.5 Tanganyika Territories Part 2 Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola Hughes, J.F.,1957,A Summary of Information Available on the Utilisation of Brachystegia,spiciformis,Tanzania Forest Dept. Util. Sec. Moshi - Utilisation Series,No.1 Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Pardy, A.A.,1951,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia - Acacia campylacantha,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1606 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 Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London