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Blunting Effect Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing		Scientific Name Pentaclethra macrophylla Trade Name Ataa Family Name Leguminosae Common Names Akpaka, Althawah, An-fal, Apara, Ataa, Atawa, Atawah, Ateba, Atewa, Atowa, Atta bean, Bala, Bali, Bbiah, Bemba, Blay-bu, Combolo, Djong-tu, Ebal, Ebe, Eklo, Ekuama, Ekuana, Essiri, Fa, Fa-weli, Faa, Fae, Fai, Fakha, Fawei, Gbangban, Gbiah, Kekung, Kenuri, Kombolo, Kommott, Lubamba, M'vanza, Marrone, Mba, Mbala, Mouala, Moulla-panza, Mubala, Nkpa, Nsangabare, Ogba, Oil bean tree, Okpagha, Okuw, Opaga, Otiabor, Ovala, Owala, Sicupira Africana, Tsaklo, Tshibambabamba, Ugba, Ukana, Ukpaghan, Ukpakara, Ukuna, Wild locust Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Zaire Common Uses Agricultural implements, Barge fenders, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Charcoal, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Excelsior, Factory construction, Flooring, Fuelwood, Handles, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Naval architecture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Vats, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction Environmental Profile Very secure within its natural range Little threat to its habitat Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center Its status in the wild in Angola, Benin, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Principe, Sao Tome, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Zaire is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information Distribution Overview The species is widely distributed in tropical Africa. It is also often cultivated as a roadside tree. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Reddish brown Brown Greenish to greyish Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Sapwood Color White to yellow Well defined Different than heartwood Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood The sapwood is pale gray-brown or white, and is not always clearly demarcated from the heartwood Grain Interlocked Even Straight Figure Variable (figure) Interlocked Variable figure Straight Texture Even or uniform Fine Coarse Medium Medium coarse to coarse Fine Fine to medium Fair to medium coarse Luster Lustrous Natural Growth Defects Whitish deposits in vessels Natural Durability Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Durable Very durable Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Susceptible to marine borer attack Withstands adverse effects of weather Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Highly susceptible to pinhole and marine borer attack The timber is occasionally attacked by termites Odor No specific smell or taste Light-Induced Color Change None Kiln Schedules Dry at a slow speed Drying Defects Moderate surface checking Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Checking Logs should be converted soon after felling to avoid seasoning losses. Ease of Drying Requires care to minimize degrade Moderate Dries slowly Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is misshapen Bole/stem form is cylindrical Tree Size Trunk diameter is about 36 inches (100 cm). Comments General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Wood and bark are used for medicinal purposes. The wood has good fuel properties and is used for charcoal. The tree produces an edible fruit and the seeds yield up to 45% oil used for lubrication, candle and soap-making Blunting Effect Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is severe Cutting Resistance Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult The wood saws fairly easily but slowly. Movement in Service Not stable/prone to move Nailing Easy to nail Nailing properties are variable Difficult to nail Planing Difficult to plane Easy to plane The timber is hard and heavy, but it is reported to plane reasonably well Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Response to Hand Tools Difficult to machine Moderate working qualities Easy to machine The timber is hard and heavy, and is rather difficult to work with hand tools. Sanding Requires care in sanding Screwing Easy to screw Turning The material is generally difficult to work with ordinary tools in most machining operations, including turning, moulding, mortising, and boring Painting Good results Polishing Poor results Good results The timber is reported to finish and polish well with care Varnishing Good results Strength Properties Mor/Bending strength = high Max. crushing strength = high 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Very hard Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Large 61-67 lbs/cu. ft. Very high Medium Fairly large Fairly large Fairly large 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. The species has very high bending strength, and is much stronger than Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). Maximum crushing strength, or compression parallel to grain, is exceptionally high. It is hard and superior to Teak and probably Mahogany. The species has very high density. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 15504 21161 psi Crushing Strength 2470 psi Density 54 lbs/ft3 Hardness 2581 lbs Maximum Crushing Strength 6899 10524 psi Shearing Strength 2225 psi Static Bending 12162 psi Stiffness 2249 2490 1000 psi Toughness 342 inch-lbs Specific Gravity 0.83 Weight 50 43 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % Volumetric Shrinkage 13 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 1090 1487 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 173 kg/cm2 Density 865 kg/m3 Hardness 1170 kg Maximum Crushing Strength 485 739 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 156 kg/cm2 Static Bending 855 kg/cm2 Stiffness 158 175 1000 kg/cm2 Toughness 393 cm-kg Specific Gravity 0.83 Weight 801 689 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 6 % Tangential Shrinkage 9 % 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 Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153 Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department Fouarge, J., Gerard, G.,1964,Bois du Mayumbe,I.N.E.A.C. Belguim 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 France - Comite Nacional des Bois Coloniaux,1931,Etude Physique et Mecanique des Bois Coloniaux,Assoc. Colonies-Sciences & Comite National des Bios Coloniaux, Paris,,France Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan 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 Meniaud, J., Bretonnet, F.,1926,Les Bois Coloniaux d'Afrique dans l'Industrie,Publ. de l'Agence Gen. des Colonies Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,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 Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London Voorhoeve, A.G.,1965,Liberian High Forest Trees,Centre for Agric. Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen