top

Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position.

Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data.

Blunting Effect
Boring
Carving
Comments
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
Painting
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
Texture
Trade Name
Tree Identification
Tree Size
Turning
Varnishing
Veneering Qualities
Weathering

Scientific Name
Podocarpus gracilior

Trade Name
Bastard yellowwood

Family Name
Podocarpaceae

Wood Image 1

Common Names
Bastard yellowwood, Ben, Bene, Birbisa, East African podo, East African yellowwood, Falcate yellowwood, Mse, Mse mawe, Mufu, Musangira, Museneka, Musenene, Musengera, Musenuera, Muvengea, Mwavavi, Ol biribiri, Piri pirindi, Podo, Sapta, Saptet, Wiriwiri, Yellow-wood, Zigba

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

Common Uses
Beehives, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Concrete formwork, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Model airplanes, Paneling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Tables, Turnery, Vats

Environmental Profile
Abundant/Secure


Heartwood Color
Red
Pink
Brown
Green/grey
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Pale brown
White to cream


Sapwood Color
White
Yellow
Pink
Red
Grey
Same as heartwood


Grain
Straight
Even
Figure
Distinct (figure)

Straight
Distinct figure


Texture
Coarse
Fine


Luster
Medium
Slightly lustrous
Dull


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


Weathering
Poor


Kiln Schedules
Drying (speed) is fast
Dry at a moderate speed
UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1


Drying Defects
Checking
Collapse
Distortion
Internal Honeycombing Possible
Slight end splitting
Slight surface checking
Slight twist/warp
No surface checking
No end splitting
Moderate twist/warp
Moderate surface checking
Moderate end spitting


Ease of Drying
Fairly Easy
Rapidly
Reconditioning Treatement
Easy
Moderate


Kiln Drying Rate
Naturally dries quickly


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


Tree Size
Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Bole length is 10-20 m
Tree height is 40-50 m
Sapwood width is 0-5 cm
Sapwood width is 5-10 cm
Tree height is 30-40 m
Tree height is 20-30 m
Bole length is 20-30 m
Tree height is 50-60 m
Bark width is 10-15 mm
Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm


Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect
Blunting effect on machining is slight


Boring
Fair to good results
Fairly easy to very easy
Moderately easy
Easy


Carving
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy


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


Gluing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to glue


Mortising
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to mortise
Finishes well


Moulding
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good finishing results
Easy to mould


Movement in Service
Small
Stable
Medium


Nailing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Holds nails well
Easy to nail


Planing
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Very Good to Excellent Results
Planes well, to a good finish
Easy to plane


Resistance to Impregnation
Heartwood is permeable


Resistance to Splitting
Poor
Very Poor
Satisfactory


Response to Hand Tools
Easy to Work
Responds Readily
Easy to machine
Moderate working qualities


Routing & Recessing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Easy to treat using either open tank or pressure syste
Contains alkaloids giving it good acid resistance
Satisfactory routing results
Moderately easy


Sanding
Fair to Good Results


Screwing
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Very Good to Excellent Results
Screwing yields good results
Easy to screw


Turning
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Fair to Good Results
Good results
Easy to turn
Satisfactory


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


Steam Bending
Fair to Good Results
Moderate


Painting
Fair to Good Results
Surface Preparation
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good results
Satisfactory results


Polishing
Poor to Very Poor Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Good results
Satisfactory results


Staining
Finish is generally good
Staining (Characteristic) = non-staining
Satisfactory
Poor resistance to decay


Varnishing
Surface Preparation
Fair to Good Results
Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Good results
Satisfactory


Strength Properties
Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = low
Max. crushing strength = medium
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low
Hardness (side grain) = soft
Shrinkage, Radial = very small
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = small
Hardness (side grain) = very soft
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low
Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low
Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate
Toughness (total work) = very low
Shrinkage, Radial = small
Max. crushing strength = low
Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft.
Work to Maximum Load
Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low
Shrinkage, Tangential = very small
Shrinkage, Radial = moderate
Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft.
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft.
Bending strength (MOR) = medium


Numerical Data
ItemGreenDryEnglish
Bending Strength63409945psi
Density33lbs/ft3
Hardness712lbs
Impact Strength25inches
Maximum Crushing Strength37686191psi
Shearing Strength1153psi
Stiffness101711991000 psi
Toughness95inch-lbs
Work to Maximum Load710inch-lbs/in3
Weight3225lbs/ft3
Radial Shrinkage2%
Tangential Shrinkage6%
ItemGreenDryMetric
Bending Strength445699kg/cm2
Density528kg/m3
Hardness322kg
Impact Strength63cm
Maximum Crushing Strength264435kg/cm2
Shearing Strength81kg/cm2
Stiffness71841000 kg/cm2
Toughness109cm-kg
Work to Maximum Load0.490.70cm-kg/cm3
Weight512400kg/m3
Radial Shrinkage2%

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.

Battiscombe, E., Dale, I.R.,1936,Trees and Shrubs of Kenya Colony,Govt. Printer Nairobi

Bengough, C.C.,1971,Commercial Timbers of Kenya,Ministry of Natural Resources Forest Department, Kenya

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

Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World No.1 Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

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., Norcross, H.,1961,The Resistance of Tanganyika Timbers to Impregnation,Tanzania Forest Dept. Util. Sec .Tech. Note,No.28

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

Chalk, L., et al,1932,Some East African Coniferae and Leguminosae,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 1

Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London

Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London

Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

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

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

Kenya Forest Department,1941,Strengths of Kenya timbers,Kenya Forest Department Bulletin No. 36

Logan, W.E.M.,1946,An Introduction to the Forests of Central and Southern Ethiopia,Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford Paper No.24

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

Organisation for European Economic Co-operation,1951,African Tropical Timber (Nomenclature, Description,OEEC

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Smith, D.N.,1959,The Natural Durability of Timber,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Record,No.30

Tack, C.H.,1958,The Strength Properties of some Uganda Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Bulletin No. 5

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 Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14

Tanzania Forest Department,1961,The Movement of Timbers Technical Note No.29,Tanzania Forest Department, Utilisation Division Technical Note

Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi

Tanzania Forest Division,1967,The Weights and Shrinkage of some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sect. Technical Note,No.25

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

U.K. - Colonial Forest Resources Development Department,1939,British Colonial Timbers - Woods recommended for Various Uses,Colonial Forest Resources Development Department,London

Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1

Uganda Forest Department,1969,The Shrinkage of Some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.47