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Blunting Effect Boring 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 References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Albizia lebbeck Trade Name Lebbek Family Name Leguminosae Synonyms Mimosa sirissa Common Names Acacia, Acacia amarilla, Algarrobo de olor, Amor platonico, Aroma, Barba de Caballero, Bengha, Beymada, Black ebony, Cabello de venus, Chichola, Chinchula, Darshana, Dirasana, Dormilon, East Indian walnut, Frywood, Gachoda, Garso, Gokiru, Harreri, Hirih, Indian albizzia, Kal baghi, Kat vage, Kat vaghe, Kinhi, Kokko, Langil, Lebbeck, Lebbek, Lega, Mai-kokko, Mara, Pedda duchirram, Pruek, Samkesar, Sirai, Sirin, Siris, Siris tree, Sirisha, Sirsul, Tama-kai, Tibet, Tinia, Vaga, Vagei, Vaghe, Weru, West Indies ebony, Woman's tongue, Womans tongue tree, Womens tongue, Ye-ho-shu Regions of Distribution Africa, Central America, North America, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Australia, Belize, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Fiji [Polynesia], Fiji, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Laos, Liberia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Caledonia Island [France], New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico [US], Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Matches, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Stair rails, Stairworks, Stools, Stringers, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tool handles, Toys, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Indigenous to South-East Asia and Australia (including several regions in India, Bangladesh, the lower hill forests in Burma, and dry regions in Sri Lanka). It has been widely cultivated and is now pantropical. It grows well in areas with 600-2500 mm rain/year but tolerates as little as 300 mm. The altitudinal range is 0-1800 m and mean annual temperature 20-35ºC. Grows well on fertile, well-drained loamy soils but poorly on heavy clays. It tolerates acidity, alkalinity, heavy and eroded soils, and waterlogged soils. It is nitrogen-fixing, tolerant to drought and older trees can survive grass fires and intense night frost. While fire and frost will kill off aboveground growth of young trees, new growth will normally follow. A. lebbeck is also an introduced species elsewhere in the tropics, and can be found growing wild in Nigeria. Heartwood Color Brown Red Black Dark brown Brown Pale brown Golden brown with a reddish cast Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Green/Grey Red White to yellow Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Straight Distinct (figure) Wavy Even Closed Other (figure) Stripe (figure) Interlocked Generally straight, but not always Wavy Distinct and fine figure Other figure Distinct figure Striped figure Moderately to severely interlocked The wood has heavily interlocked grain, which produces a ribbon figure on the radial surface. Vessel flecks are reported to produce a figured tangential surface that is similar to the lauans (Shorea spp.), but with more luster Texture Coarse Medium Coarse Medium Medium to coarse Luster Medium High Lustrous Pronounced Natural Durability Moderately durable Durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Very durable Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Resistant to termites Non-resistant to termites Non-durable Moderately durable Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Durable Very durable Susceptible to wood staining fungal attack Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack by marine borers and termites Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Non durable Heartwood resistant to decay Odor No specific smell or taste Resin Content A reddish resin is present in the wood Toxicity Some toxic effects Respiratory effects Unspecified toxicity Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed UK=E US=T6D2/T3D Fr=5 Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid Uk=F US=T6D4/T3D3 Fr=6 T6 - D2 (4/4); T3 - D1 (8/4) US Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow Drying Defects Splitting Checking Distortion Moderate end spitting Moderate surface checking Severe end splitting Slight twist/warp Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Variable Medium to High Shrinkage Slowly Requires special attention Easy Difficult Variable results. Moderate Controlled drying conditions will prevent rapid drying and yield best results. Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries slowly Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Slow Drying rate is slow Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 20-30 m Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 0-10 m Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Blunting Effect Moderate High to severe Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate There is some significant blunting effect on cutting tools Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Material with interlocked grain can be difficult. Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Satisfactory gluing properties Glues well Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stable Small Holds shape well Nailing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Variable, from difficult to satisfactory Holds nails well Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Difficult to plane Advised to reduce cutting angle Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is resistant Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Difficult to machine Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Sanding Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Good sanding finish Easy to sand Screwing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Screwing yields good results Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Poor results Difficult to turn Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Easy to cut Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Steam Bending Fair to Good Results Good Painting Fair to Good Results Satisfactory results Good results Polishing Fair to Good Results Surface Preparation Very Good to Excellent Results Satisfactory results Good results Surface treatment advised Staining Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Finish is generally good Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium Max. crushing strength = high Modulus of Elasticity = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Hardness (side grain) = soft Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Hardness (side grain) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = small Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Density (dry Weight) = >50 lbs/cu. ft Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9308 14150 psi Density 40 lbs/ft3 Hardness 1322 lbs Impact Strength 29 28 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 5499 8824 psi Shearing Strength 1918 psi Stiffness 1538 1836 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 8 8 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.52 Weight 45 39 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % Volumetric Shrinkage 8 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 654 994 kg/cm2 Density 641 kg/m3 Hardness 599 kg Impact Strength 73 71 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 386 620 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 134 kg/cm2 Stiffness 108 129 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.56 0.56 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.52 Weight 721 624 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 2 % Tangential Shrinkage 5 % References Arno, J. 1989. Albizia lebbeck - Lebbek. In A Guide to Useful Wood os the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 32-33. Bodig, J. and B. A. Jayne. 1982. Mechanics of Wood and Wood Composites. 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