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MUBALA (Pentaclethra macrophylla)
Trade Name
Mubala
Scientific Name
Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth.
Family
LEGUMINOSAE
Common Names
Okpagha (Nigeria); Apara (Nigeria); Ovala (Côte d`Ivoire); Ebé (Gabon); Essiri (Congo); Mubala (Cameroon); Mbalaka (Cameroon); Kombolo (Cameroon); Ebé (Cameroon); Ebaye (Cameroon); Bemba (Cameroon); Wild locust; Ukpakara; Ukpaghan; Ukana; Ugba; Tshibambabamba; Tsaklo; Owala; Ovala; Otiabor; Opaga; Okuw; Okpagha; Oil bean tree; Ogba; Nsangabare; Nkpa; Moulla-panza; Mouala; Mbala; Mba; M`vanza; Lubamba; Kommott; Kombolo; Kenuri; Kekung; Gbiah; Gbangban; Fawei; Fakha; Fai; Fae; Faa; Fa-wuli; Fa; Essiri; Ekuana; Ekuama; Eklo; Ebe; Ebal; Djong-tu; Combolo; Blay-bu; Bemba; Bbiah; Bali; Bala; Atta bean; Atowa; Atewa; Ateba; Atawah; Atawa; Ataa; Apara; An-fal; Althawah; Akpaka; Mubala
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches a height of 15 to 40 m, with diameters of 100 cm. The bole is often irregular, unbuttressed or low buttressed, with a fluted base. It may be up to 6 to 10 m in length.
Natural Habitat
Pentaclethra macrophylla occurs in closed forests, along riverbanks. It is dominant in secondary forests.
Wood Identification
Anatomic Description Of Wood
Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 150 to 200 micras (medium). White deposits in heartwood vessels. Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel- Axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays non-storied. Rays 1 to 2 seriate. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The sapwood is pale grey-brown or white, it has a thickness of 2.5 to 5 cm. The heartwood is red-brown, it is sapwood and heartwood are not always differentiated.
Grain
Straight or slightly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.
Texture
The wood is reported to be frequently medium textured.
Natural Durability
Moderately durable to decay. Without preservative treatment, this species can be used when risks of occasional re-humidification, but it is not suited for uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
3
Silica Content
Silica Content: Negligible content of silica is reported. Amounts over 0.05% may affect wood processing. Silica Value: 0.02
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.82
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.95
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: Drying is fairly easy; some difficulties could occur when drying too fast. Drying Defects: No particular risks of drying defects, subject to normal drying conditions. Kiln Schedules: The kiln schedule has been tested.
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1242
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
794
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
115
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
1123
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
1147
Workability
Sawing
Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
Not suitable for veneering.
Sliced Veneer
Not suitable for veneering.
Blunting Effect
Moderate blunting effect; stellited blades for sawing and carbide tools for machining are advised.
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
Can be polished without surface preparation.
Response To Hand Tools
Working with hand tools is difficult.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
EXTERIOR GENERAL, poles, stakes posts, crossties, HOUSING GENERAL, parquet, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, SPORTS, TOOLS, tool handles, agricultural tools, CONTAINERS, cooperage, truck bodies, truck flooring, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boats
Exterior General
- 1 - Tabela de resultados de ensaios fisicos e mecanicos
Poles
- 3 - Estudo dendrologico e determinacao das caracteristicas fisicas e mecanicas do genipapo (Genipa americana)
Stake Posts
- 5 - Propriedades fisicas e mecanicas da madeira e do contraplacado de Pinus elliottii
Crossties
- 8 - Maderas latinoamericas. III, Podocarpus standleyi ,Podocarpus oleifolius, Drims granadensis, Magnolia poasana y Didymopanax pittieri
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Parquet
- 15 - Empire Timbers
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Sports
- 38 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Tools
- 42 - Utilización Industrial de Nuevas Especies Forestales en el Perú.
Tool Handles
- 43 - Maderas de Bolivia (Características y Usos de 55 Maderas Tropicales)
Agricultural Tools
- 44 - Atlas of Peruvian Woods
Containers
- 50 - Properties of imported tropical woods
Cooperage
- 51 - Recopilacion de propiedades mecanicas de maderas creciendo en Chile
Truck Body
- 53 - Timbers of the New World
Truck Flooring
- 54 - Bulletin of the Government Forest Experiment Station N.157: Identification of Tropical Woods
Shipbuilding
- 55 - Tropical Timber Atlas of Latin America
Boats
- 56 - Manual de Identificación de Especies Forestales de la Subregión Andina.
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