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Blunting Effect
Common Names
Common Uses
Countries of Distribution
Cutting Resistance
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying
Family Name
Gluing
Grain
Heartwood Color
Kiln Drying Rate
Kiln Schedules
Luster
Moulding
Movement in Service
Nailing
Natural Durability
Numerical Data
Painting
Planing
Polishing
References
Regions of Distribution
Resistance to Impregnation
Response to Hand Tools
Sapwood Color
Scientific Name
Screwing
Staining
Steam Bending
Strength Properties
Synonyms
Texture
Toxicity
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Veneering Qualities

Scientific Name
Mitragyna rubrostipulacea

Trade Name
Abura

Family Name
Rubiaceae

Synonyms
Mitragyna rubrostipulata, Mitragyne rubrostipulacea, Mitragyne rubrostipulata, Adina rubrostipulata, Hallea rubrostipulata


Wood Image 1

Common Names
Abura, Mromberomba, Mromberombbe, Muho, Munyzmaizi, Mutoro, Mutororo, Muzingu, Nazingu, Ngomera, Nzin, Nzingu, Obul, Omuzito, Oo, Romberombe

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Tanzania, Uganda

Common Uses
Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Moldings, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Toys, Vats, Veneer, Veneer: decorative

Heartwood Color
Yellow
Brown
Orange
Red
Pale red to pink
Pale brown
Brown
White to cream


Sapwood Color
White
Yellow


Grain
Straight
Figure
Weak (figure)
Even
Growth rings (figure)

Straight
Weak figure
Clear growth rings (figure)


Texture
Fine
Medium
Fine
Fine to medium


Luster
Dull


Natural Durability
Durable
Perishable
Non-durable
Susceptible to insect attack
Non-resistant to powder post beetles
Non-resistant to termites
Non-resistant to marine borers
Perishable
Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera)
Non durable
Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles
Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present
Moderately durable


Toxicity
Some toxic effects


Kiln Schedules
Dry at a slow speed
Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid
Drying (speed) is fast
UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S
UK=H US=T10D4S/T8D3S Fr=7
UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3


Drying Defects
Splitting
Moderate end spitting
Slight end splitting
Moderate cupping
Slight twist/warp
No twisting or warping
No surface checking
Slight surface checking
Slight cupping


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Easy


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly
Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)


Tree Identification
Bole/stem form is buttressed
Bole/stem form is not buttressed


Tree Size
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bole length is 10-20 m
Bole length is 0-10 m


Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Cutting Resistance
Easy to saw
Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy


Gluing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to glue


Moulding
Good finishing results


Movement in Service
Excellent Stability - Small Movement
Medium
Small


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to nail
Holds satisfactorily


Planing
Good planing finish


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


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Easy to machine


Screwing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


Turning
Difficult to turn


Veneering Qualities
Veneers easily
Veneers moderately easy
Suitable for peeling
Easy to cut


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results


Painting
Good results


Polishing
Very Good to Excellent Results
Fair to Good Results
Satisfactory results
Good results


Staining
Finish is generally satisfactory
Finish is generally good


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large
Max. crushing strength = medium
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = large
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength61119589psi
Density33lbs/ft3
Hardness995lbs
Impact Strength28inches
Maximum Crushing Strength39166397psi
Shearing Strength882psi
Stiffness135815681000 psi
Weight3225lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage4%
Tangential Shrinkage7%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength429674kg/cm2
Density528kg/m3
Hardness451kg
Impact Strength71cm
Maximum Crushing Strength275449kg/cm2
Shearing Strength62kg/cm2
Stiffness951101000 kg/cm2
Weight512400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage4%

References
Bois, P.J.,1966,The Strength Properties of Tanzania Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi Tech. Note, No.35

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

Grant, D.K.S.,1934,Some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Department

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

Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda

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 Forest Division,1966,Mitragyna rubrostipulata (nzingu/mromberombe,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi - Timbers of Tanganyika

Uganda Forest Department,1954,Abura (Mitragyna stipulosa and Mitragyna rubrostipulata,Uganda Forest Div. Util. Sec. Timber Leaflet,No.6