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Blunting Effect Boring Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Turning		Scientific Name Croton macrostachyus Trade Name Amuutu Family Name Euphorbiaceae Common Names Amuutu, Ifurufuru, Mehunduzi, Mfirifiri, Mfurufuru, Mpululu, Mshunduzi, Mukuruguru, Mulangu, Mulemgu, Mulugu, Murangala, Musine, Musogasoga, Mutsutsu, Mutundu, Mutundu-nigura, Mutuntu, Muyemberera, Negeul, Tebesuet, Toboswa, Yalula Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Cameroon, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda Common Uses Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Matches, Particleboard, Plywood, Posts, Veneer: decorative Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Pink White to cream Greenish to greyish Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Sapwood Color Same as heartwood Grain Straight Closed Even Wavy Straight Wavy Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Fine Fine to medium Luster Dull Natural Durability Very durable Perishable Sapwood is susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Non durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Odor Has an odor Toxicity Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast Drying Defects Moderate end spitting Severe twisting/warping Severe surface checking Ease of Drying Reconditioning Treatement Fairly Easy Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Blunting Effect Little Boring Poor to very poor results Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to glue Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Moulding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Excellent Stability - Small Movement Medium Large Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to nail Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to plane Planes to a poor finish Planes well, to a good finish Planes to a satisfactory finish Resistance to Impregnation Heartwood is permeable Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Responds Readily Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Screwing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Turning Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Steam Bending Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Polishing Fair to Good Results Staining Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 6111 9589 psi Density 32 lbs/ft3 Maximum Crushing Strength 3916 6397 psi Shearing Strength 1560 psi Stiffness 1358 1568 1000 psi Weight 31 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 429 674 kg/cm2 Density 512 kg/m3 Maximum Crushing Strength 275 449 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 109 kg/cm2 Stiffness 95 110 1000 kg/cm2 Weight 496 400 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 Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi 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 Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J., et al,1960,Nigerian Trees Vol.1,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan McCoy-Hill, M.,1955,Timbers of Tanganyika - Mulugu and Mkaraka,Timber Technology,63(2187, p20 Patterson, D.N.,1963,The strength of Kenya timbers, their derivation and application,Kenya Forestry Department Research Bulletin,No.23 Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Croton macrostachys (Mutundu,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika United Kingdom - H.M.S.O.,1954,Report of the Matchwood Working Party,H.M.S.O. for the Board of Trade and Ministry of Materials Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya