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Blunting Effect Boring Carving Certified Source 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 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 Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities		Scientific Name Irvingia gabonensis Trade Name Oba Family Name Simaroubaceae Synonyms Irvingia teniufolia, Irvingia tenuinulata, Mangifera gabonensis Common Names African mango, Agbons, An-gbere, Andoc, Andok, Andok oba, Belle-tu, Bobo, Boboi, Boborae, Boborau, Boborou, Boboru, Bojep, Bopala, Dibiue mutshi ditoke, Dika, Dika-bread tree, Dika-nut tree, Diuka mahogany, Duika, Etu, Etue, Gbele, Guiba, Keega, Kpeh, Kpele, Mahogany, Manguier sauvage, Mbei, Meba, Mombulu, Mueba, Mukessu, Mutendo, Nsing, Oba, Ogboin, Ogbou, Ogui, Opopa, Oro, Oropa, Udika, Vjiri, Wanini, Wild mango Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Carvings, Chemical derivatives, Construction, Crossties, Domestic flooring, Excelsior, Factory construction, Flooring, Handles, Heavy construction, Joinery, Millwork, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Posts, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Truck bodies, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Woodwork Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Rare Status unknown in many of its growth areas Little threat to its survival, at least in the immediate future Generally secure within its natural habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Distribution Overview Western tropical Africa from Senegal to Angola; often found near riverbanks and reaches its optimum in the dense evergreen rain forest. Angola, Congo, Côte.d'ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Uganda, Príncipe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan. Found in the rain forest, but also in forest galleries. It is always found in rather wet soils. Heartwood Color White Yellow Orange Brown Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish Dark brown Brown Pale green-brown Fades with age to grayish brown. Yellow with red stripes Sapwood Color White Yellow Red White to yellow Paler than heartwood Well defined Different than heartwood Color not distinct from heartwood The sapwood is yellow with red stripes, and is not always differentiated from the heartwood. Grain Interlocked Straight Even Interlocked Straight Straight to interlocked Texture Medium Coarse Fine to medium Fine Uneven Medium Luster High Medium Dull Non-lustrous Natural Durability Perishable Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to termites Moderately durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Very durable Susceptible to marine borer attack Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles The timber has high resistance to the harmful effects of the weather, which makes it a good candidate for exterior uses. The wood is immune to termites in Ghana, but minor attacks by termites and marine borers have been reported in Congo. Odor No specific smell or taste Drying Defects Checking Distortion Splitting Surface checks No twisting or warping End checks It is recommended that felled logs be quartersawn as quickly as possible to minimize or prevent high differential shrinkage which can lead to splitting, end-checking, and surface-checking. Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Rapidly Reconditioning Treatement Fairly difficult to penetrate with preservatives Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 0-10 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Sapwood width is 0-5 cm It develops small buttresses, and boles are usually straight and well-formed. Optimum growing conditions are the dense evergreen rain forests within its range. Certified Source Certified Source Comments The timber is described as hard, tough, and heavy. The tree yields the dika nut. Its edible fruit is similar to that of mango, and the kernels are a source of edible fats Blunting Effect Little Moderate effect Boring Fairly easy to very easy Poor to very poor results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult Saws slowly and moderately well Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Mortising Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Very Good to Excellent Results Requires pre-boring Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Difficult to plane Picking up occurs during planing. Very sharp cutting edges together with reduced cutting angles are recommended. Resistance to Impregnation Permeable heartwood Permeable sapwood The heartwood is reported impossible to penetrate with preservatives, and the sapwood is is difficult to treat. Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Responds Readily Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Poor to Very Poor Results Pre-Boring suggested before screwing Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Suitable for peeling Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Veneers moderately easy Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Satisfactory results Strength Properties Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Max. crushing strength = high Density (dry weight) = 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = very hard Density (dry weight) = 61 - 67 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very high Hardness (side grain) = hard Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 16504 24498 psi Density 55 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2784 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 7270 10637 psi Shearing Strength 2985 psi Stiffness 2390 2761 1000 psi Toughness 282 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.64 0.76 Weight 54 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Volumetric Shrinkage 18 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1160 1722 kg/cm2 Density 881 kg/m3 Hardness 1262 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 511 747 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 209 kg/cm2 Stiffness 168 194 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 324 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.64 0.76 Weight 865 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % 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 Chalk, L.,1933,Twenty West African Timber Trees,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 2 Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison. Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies Fouarge, J.,1970,Essais Physiques,Mecaniques et de Durabilite de Bois de la Republique,Democratique du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.76 Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford. Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159 Kunkel, G.,1965,The Trees of Liberia,German Forestry Mission to Liberia Report,No.3 Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L'Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5 Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim Saint-Aubin, G. de,1963,La Foret du Gabon,CTFT Publ., No.21 Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.T Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T. Savill, P.S., Fox, J.E.D.,1967,Trees of Sierra Leone 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 Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.