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GRENADILLE AFRIQUE (Dalbergia melanoxylon)

Trade Name

Grenadille Afrique

Scientific Name

Dalbergia melanoxylon Guill. et Perr.

Family

LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names

Ebene (Senegal); African Grenadillo (United Kingdom); Afrikanisches Grenadill (Germany); Umbambangwe; Tareh; Shami; Senegal ebony; Samachi; Rugbe; Rit; Red; Poyi; Pingo; Opo; Murwiti; Munhowe; Mumhingwe; Mukudziti; Muhati; Mugweze; Mufulamamba; Mozambique ebony; Motangu; Lurr; Funiti; East African blackwood; Driedoring; Did; Chiku; Chella; Cape damson; Bokango; Black botany bay wood; Begboio; Babanus; African ebony; Afrikanisches grenadille (Germany); Ebene du mozambique (France); African grenadillo African grenadillo (United Kingdom); African blackwood (United Kingdom); Mukelete (Zimbabwe); Banbanus (Sudan); Mufunjo (Uganda); Mpingo (Tanzania); Grenadilla (Mozambique); Pau-Preto (Mozambique); Mukelete (Reunion); Mugembe (Tanzania); Grenadille Afrique

Scientific Name Synonyms

Amerimnon melanoxylon (Guill. & Perr.) Kuntze

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The tree is much branched, usually multi-stemmed and small, 5 to 8 m in height, sometimes as much as 16 m. The bole is short, cylindrical, often fluted and rarely over 30 cm in diameter.

Natural Habitat

Dalbergia melanoxylon occurs on a wide variety of sites from sea level to 1,050 m of altitude.

Natural Distribution

East and Central Africa, from Sudan to Mozambique, to Angola, and to Senegal.

Non Timber Uses

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

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Wood Identification

Anatomic Description Of Wood

Wood semi-ring porous and/or ring porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 to 150 micras (small). Brown-colored deposits in heartwood vessels. Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 more than 20 (very abund Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse and/or diffuse in aggregates. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma storied. Prismatic crystals in short chains in chambered Rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Rays storied. Rays 1 to 2 seriate. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III). Non-septate fibers. 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

Color

The sapwood is yellowish white. The heartwood is dark purple-brown with black streaks, it is sharply demarcated.

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

1

Grain

Straight; grain has no particular influence on drying, machining and finishing qualities.

Texture

This wood has a somewhat fine texture.

Natural Durability

Very durable to decay; without preservative treatment. This species is especially suited for all the uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification. Resistant to termites attack. Heartwood is resistant to Lyctus attacks.

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

1

Internal Growth Stresses

No growth stresses are reported in this species.

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)

1.07

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

1.29

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying: Air seasoning of Resak is reported to be moderately slow. Boards of 25 mm thick take about 2.5 months to dry from 35% to 15% moisture content. Drying Defects: Risk of warping, checking and deformation.

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

FR-13

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

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

1650

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

206458

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

729

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

103

Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)

2123

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

1903

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 the extracts content.

Sanding

Easy to perform; it gives good results.

Polishing

Can be polished without surface preparation.

Response To Hand Tools

Working with hand tools is difficult.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

HOUSING GENERAL, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers
Fittings
  • 19 - Silica in Timbers
Furniture Cabinets
  • 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.

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