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ACAJOU D`AFRIQUE (Khaya grandifoliola)

Trade Name

Acajou d`Afrique

Scientific Name

Khaya grandifoliola C.DC.

Family

MELIACEAE

Common Names

Benin Mahogany (Nigeria); Acajou Grandes Feuilles (Côte d`Ivoire); Acajou grandes feuilles (France); Heavy African Mahogany (United Kingdom); Eri Kire (Uganda); Wausauwah; Wansanwa; Upono; Trio; Tido; Tiama-tiama; Senegal mahogany; Ono; Oganwo; Odupon; Oduben; Odala; Obon; Murraya; Munyama; Mario; Male; Loukrou; Krubna; Kruba; Khaya mahogany; Homraya; Heavy African mahogany; Gagaliga; Gadeau; Eri; Dumanami; Dukuma; Dukru; Dubini; Dirinshi; Diki; Digiten; Bogu; Big leaf mahogany; Benin mahogany; Asamogo; Appapayi; Apenkwa; Akor; African mahogany; Acajou; Bandoro (Sudan); Eri kiree (Uganda); Ogwango (Nigeria); Akuk (Nigeria); Diala-iri (Ghana); Acajou d`Afrique

Scientific Name Synonyms

Khaya kerstingii Engl.; Khaya grandis Stapf

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The tree reaches a height of 32 to 40 m, with trunk diameters from 100 to 150 cm. The bole is usually twisted or crooked with low branching. Log is banned for international trading.(Cameroon)

Natural Habitat

Khaya grandifoliola is often found in the fringe between the rain forest and the savanna. National conservation status in Benin V, Cote d`Ivoire V.

Natural Distribution

West tropical Africa from the Guinea Coast to Cameroon and extending eastward through the Congo basin to Uganda and parts of Sudan.

Plantations Available?

Tested and planted in some African countries. In most cases, mixed plantations with other species (Niangon, Okoume, Bilinga). The duration of the rotation is 40 years, to reach 60 cm in diameter.

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Wood Identification

Anatomic Description Of Wood

Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 200 micras or more (large). Brown-colored deposits in heartwood vessels. Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 6 to 10 (medium). Simple perforation plat Occasionally axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Occasionally prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays of two distinct sizes. Occasionally rays storied. Rays 1 to 2 seriate. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Body ray cells procumbent with mostly 2 to 4 rows of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-II). Septate fibers present. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.

  • Wood Macro Photo Tangential Plane
  • Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section

Availability

Cites Status

Unrestricted

General Wood Description

Odor

Light and pleasant odor.

Color

The sapwood is creamy white to yellowish white, it has a thickness of 5 cm. The heartwood is pink to light red brown, it is clearly demarcated. The silver figure is fine.

COLOR INDEX (1=Black, 7=Light yellow,white)

3

Grain

The grain is slightly but systematically interlocked; special care is needed when drying because of frequent risks of distortion.

Texture

The wood is reported to be frequently medium textured.

Luster

It is reported to be low in luster.

Natural Durability

Moderately durable to decay. Without preservative treatment, this species can be used only under risk of occasional re-humidification. It is not suited for uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification. Sensible to termites attack. The heart

Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)

3

Internal Growth Stresses

Residual stresses are reported to be absent.

Silica Content

Silica Content: Silica content is negligible. Amounts over 0.05% may affect wood processing. Silica Value: 0.01

Resistance To Impregnation

Nearly impossible to treat with a too much low penetration of the preservative substances.

Wood Physical Properties

Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)

0.60

Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)

0.66

Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)

5.6

Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)

4.3

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

FR-6

Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)

1.3

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)

905

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

123690

Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

561

Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

72

Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

86

Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)

536

Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)

637

Workability

Sawing

It is easy to saw.

Rotary Veneer Cutting

Suitable for slicing, also suitable for peeling if treated.

Sliced Veneer

Suitable for slicing, also suitable for peeling if treated.

Blunting Effect

Slight blunting effect; ordinary tools can be used for sawing and machining.

Machining

Machining of this species is reportedly easy.

Planing

Easy; no particular problems.

Moulding

Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.

Turning

30

Boring

Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.

Mortising

Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.

Nailing

No particular problem.

Gluing

Glues well if basic gluing technical rules are followed.

Sanding

Easy to perform; it gives good results.

Polishing

Can be polished without surface preparation.

Steam Bending

Steam bending is difficult.

Response To Hand Tools

No particular problems.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, boards, frames, steps, panelling, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, luxury furniture, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, faces, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, turned furniture, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boats, boat hulls, boat deck, port storage

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers
Beams
  • 11 - Prospect: The wood database
Joists
  • 12 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part I-Tropical American Species
Boards
  • 13 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section III. Latin American (Mexico, Central, and South America) Woods–Conventional Temperatures
Frames
  • 16 - Woods of the World
Steps
  • 17 - Tree Conservation Database
Paneling
  • 18 - W3TROPICOS Missouri Botanical Garden
Fittings
  • 19 - Silica in Timbers
Furniture Cabinets
  • 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Furniture, Luxury
  • 22 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section IV-Asian and Oceanian Woods
Cabinet
  • 24 - Empire Timbers
Panels, Veneers
  • 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Faces
  • 26 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Decorative veneer
  • 28 - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest of Fiji
Turning
  • 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
Ornaments
  • 31 - Embassy of Colombia in Japan
Turned Articles
  • 32 - Embassy of Cote d`Ivoire in Japan
Shipbuilding
  • 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Boats
  • 56 - Manual de Identificación de Especies Forestales de la Subregión Andina.
Boat Hulls
  • 57 - Estadísticas de Aprovechamiento, Exportación y comercialización Nacional de Productos Forestales
Boat Decking
  • 59 - Programa Nacional de uso Sostenible de los Bosques e Incremento a las Exportaciones.
Port Storage
  • 62 - Estudio Tecnológico de Maderas del Perú (Zona Pucallpa) Vol I

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