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ARAMON (Maranthes glabra)

Trade Name

Aramon

Scientific Name

Maranthes glabra Prance

Family

CHRYSOBALANACEAE

Common Names

Oghoyé (Nigeria); Aramon (Côte d`Ivoire); Ekoulebang (Gabon); essou (Congo); Oku (Central African Republic); n'ko (Cameroon); Bokanga (Cameroon); Asila (Cameroon); Aramon

Scientific Name Synonyms

Parinari glabra Oliv.

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The tree reaches a height of 40 m, with trunk diameters from 130 up to 200 cm. The bole may be bent or straight, not always cylindrical, occasionally twisted or gnarled (Nigeria). The bole length ranges from 10 to 20 m.

Natural Habitat

Maranthes glabra occurs in dense riparian forests, often on sandy soils.

Non Timber Uses

Contains some resins or extracts which could pose problems when machining or finishing.

Wood Identification

Anatomic Description Of Wood

Wood diffuse porous. Vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Vessels of two distinct diameter classes, wood not ring-porous. Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 200 micras or more (large). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 micras or less (very small) Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse and/or diffuse in aggregates. Axial parenchyma in discontinuous tangential lines. Helical thickenings in axial parenchyma cells present. Non-crystals in axial parenchyma cells. Over 9 cells per parenchyma strand. Axial pare Rays non-storied. Rays exclusively uniseriate. Silica bodies in the ray cells. All ray cells upright and/or square. Non-septate fibers. Fibers with distinctly bordered pits.

Availability

Cites Status

Unrestricted

General Wood Description

Color

The sapwood is yellowish, it has a thickness of 3 cm. The heartwood is pinkish brown, it is clearly demarcated.

Grain

Straight or slightly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.

Texture

The wood is reported to have a coarse texture.

Luster

Luster is usually low.

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. Resistant to termites attack.

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

3

Resistance To Impregnation

Difficult to treat with only a low penetration of the preservative products.

Wood Physical Properties

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

0.88

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

1.02

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

11.5

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

6.4

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying: It is reported to dry at a moderate to difficult rate. Boards of 13 mm and 38 mm thick take respectively about 2.5 months and 4 months to air dry from the green condition. Drying Defects: Risk of warping and checking. Stain may be moderate during drying. Kiln Schedules: Schedule proposed for Casuarina.

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

FR-12

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

1.8

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

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

1480

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

225677

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

994

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

155

Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

107

Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)

1313

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

1299

Workability

Sawing

Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.

Rotary Veneer Cutting

Not suitable for veneering.

Sliced Veneer

Not suitable for veneering.

Blunting Effect

Severe blunting effect; stellited blades for sawing and carbide tools for machining are recommended.

Machining

It needs powerful tools for processing. Possible difficulties caused by interlocked grain are reported.

Planing

Rather difficult; special tools are needed.

Moulding

Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.

Boring

Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.

Mortising

Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.

Nailing

Pre-boring is necessary.

Gluing

Difficult to glue because of high density.

Sanding

Easy to perform; it gives good results.

Polishing

Needs pre-coating.

Response To Hand Tools

Working with hand tools is difficult.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

HOUSING GENERAL

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers

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