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Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
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
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Resistance to Splitting
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

Scientific Name
Julbernardia globiflora

Trade Name
Mchenga

Family Name
Leguminosae

Synonyms
Pseudoberlinia globiflora, Isoberlinia globiflora


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Mchenga, Mgombo, Mpanate, Msima, Muba, Muimbi, Munondo, Musima, Muwa

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Mathematical instruments, Mine timbers, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Wheel spokes, Wheels

Environmental Profile
Vulnerable
Abundant/Secure


Heartwood Color
Brown
Red
Pink
Purple
Black
Reddish brown
Pale brown


Sapwood Color
White
Red
Brown
Green/Grey
Yellow
White to yellow
Well defined
Pinkish
Different than heartwood


Grain
Interlocked
Figure
Stripe (figure)
Weak (figure)

Interlocked
Weak figure
Striped figure


Texture
Medium
Coarse
Fine
Coarse
Medium coarse to coarse
Medium


Luster
Medium
Lustrous


Natural Durability
Resistant to termites
Durable
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Susceptible to insect attack
Moderately durable
Perishable
Non-durable
Resistant to powder post beetles
Very durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Durable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Resistant to wood staining fungal attack
Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) may be present in the felled log
Pinworm (ambrosia beetle) often present in the heartwood


Odor
Has an odor


Toxicity
Some toxic effects


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow


Drying Defects
Distortion
Splitting
Checking
Moderate surface checking
Severe twisting/warping
Moderate end spitting
Slight surface checking
Slight end splitting
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate spring/bow


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Slowly
Reconditioning Treatement


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Naturally dries slowly
Naturally dries at a moderate speed
Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is straight
Bole/stem form is cylindrical


Tree Size
Tree height is 30-40 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Tree height is 10-20 m
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Bole length is 10-20 m
Bole length is 0-10 m
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm


Blunting Effect
Moderate
Blunting effect on machining is severe


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly easy to very easy
Difficult


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult
Cutting Resistance with green wood is moderate


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Surface Preparation
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Carefully Controlled Conditions


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Difficult to mortise


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Difficult to mould


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement
Medium


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Very Good to Excellent Results
Possible if prebored
Holds nails well


Planing
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Difficult to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Resistant heartwood
Resistant sapwood
Sapwood is moderately resistant
Heartwood is highly resistant
Sapwood is permeable


Resistance to Splitting
Poor


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Responds Readily
Difficult to machine


Routing & Recessing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


Sanding
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Poor results


Steam Bending
Moderate


Polishing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Satisfactory results


Staining
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Finish is generally satisfactory


Varnishing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Strength Properties
Max. crushing strength = high
Density (dry weight) = 61 - 67 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high
Bending strength (MOR) = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = high
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium
Density (dry weight) = 53 - 60 lbs/cu. ft.
Work to Maximum Load = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high
Max. crushing strength = medium
Toughness (total work) = medium
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Hardness (side grain) = very hard
Hardness (side grain) = medium
Hardness (side grain) = hard


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength1144317761psi
Density55lbs/ft3
Hardness2305lbs
Maximum Crushing Strength63029236psi
Shearing Strength2284psi
Stiffness194422401000 psi
Toughness250inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load912inch-lbs/in3
Weight5444lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage3%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength8041248kg/cm2
Density881kg/m3
Hardness1045kg
Maximum Crushing Strength443649kg/cm2
Shearing Strength160kg/cm2
Stiffness1361571000 kg/cm2
Toughness288cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.630.84cm-kg/cm3
Weight865705kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage3%

References
Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa.

Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48

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. and Kitambi, G.,1960,The Air-drying Properties of some Tanganyika Timbers Technical Note No 23,Tanganyika Forest Department Utilisation Division Technical Note

Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment

Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)

Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 - 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi.

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 - Julbernardia globiflora,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi - Timbers of,Tanganyika