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LOTOFA (Sterculia rhinopetala)

Trade Name

Lotofa

Scientific Name

Sterculia rhinopetala K.Schum.

Family

STERCULIACEAE

Common Names

Lotofa (Côte d`Ivoire); N'kanang (Cameroon); Brown sterculia (United Kingdom); N`kanang (Cameroon); Aye (Nigeria); Wawabima (Ghana); Lotofa

Scientific Name Synonyms

Sterculia oblongifolia A. Chev.; Eribroma rhinopetala

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The tree reaches a height of 30 to 40 m. The bole is cylindrical, straight and clear to 23 m in length, buttressed to 3 m. The trunk diameter attains 70 up to 130 cm.

Natural Habitat

Sterculia rhinopetala is found in lowland rain forests, and in drier savanna forests.

Natural Distribution

West Africa, from Cote d`Ivoire to Cameroon.

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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 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation pl Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma in thick bands. Axial parenchyma storied. Prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. Prismatic crystals in short chains in chambered axial parenchyma cells. 3 to 4 cells Rays less than 4 per mm (rare). Rays non-storied. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Prismatic crystals in radial alignment in procumbent ray cells (chambered cells). Prismatic crystals in the ray cells. 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 straw color, it has a thickness of 4 to 6 cm. The heartwood is pale reddish brown to red brown, it is clearly demarcated. The silver figure is large.

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

4

Grain

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

Texture

The wood is reported to have a coarse texture.

Luster

The wood surface is described as high in luster.

Natural Durability

Durable to decay; this species can be utilized without preservative treatment for exterior joinery or similar uses. Moderately 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

Residual growth stresses are absent.

Silica Content

Silica Content: Silica content is negligible. Amounts over 0.05% may affect wood processing. Silica Value: 0

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)

0.74

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

0.84

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

10.0

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

5.0

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying: Drying is moderately easy; some particular care is needed. Drying Defects: No particular risks of drying defects, subject to normal drying conditions. Kiln Schedules: The kiln schedule has been tested.

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

FR-13

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

2.0

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

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

1355

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

190342

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

732

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

103

Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

143

Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)

888

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

952

Workability

Sawing

Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.

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

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

Planing

Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.

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.

Steam Bending

This species can be used for steam bending.

Response To Hand Tools

Working with hand tools is difficult.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

EXTERIOR GENERAL, rails, HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, boards, flooring, parquet, frames, steps, panelling, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, common furniture, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, faces, decorative

Exterior General
  • 1 - Tabela de resultados de ensaios fisicos e mecanicos
Rails
  • 6 - Physical and mechanical properties of Eucalyptus deglupta Blume grown in Costa Rica
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
Flooring
  • 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Parquet
  • 15 - Empire Timbers
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, Common
  • 23 - Handbook of Hardwoods
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

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