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NAGA (Brachystegia eurycoma)

Trade Name

Naga

Scientific Name

Brachystegia eurycoma Harms

Family

LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names

Bodgei (Sierra Leone); Okwen (Nigeria); Tebako (Liberia); Meblo (Côte d`Ivoire); Okwen (United Kingdom); Mendou (Gabon); Ekop-naga (Cameroon)

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The tree reaches a height of 40 m, with a trunk diameter up to 200 cm. The bole is short, up to 15 m in length and often curved, with large buttresses or rounded ridges at the base.

Natural Habitat

Brachystegia eurycoma occurs in dense rain forests.

Natural Distribution

Cameroon and Nigeria.

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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). Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel pits in size and s Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform. Prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells and/or in fibers. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. Rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Rays and/or axial elements irregularly storied. Rays exclusively uniseriate. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). 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 white to yellowish white, it has a thickness of 15 cm. The heartwood is pale brown to copper brown, it is clearly demarcated. The silver figure is fine (barely visible).

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

5

Grain

It has highly interlocked grain; special care is needed when drying because of frequent risks of distortion.

Texture

Medium texture is reported in this species.

Luster

The wood surface is 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. Moderately 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)

0.56

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

0.61

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

7.3

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

4.8

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying: The rate of shrinkage are slow to moderate. From green to 12% moisture content 2.2-2.5% radial, and 3.8-4.0% tangential. Drying Defects: The timber seasons satisfactorily with little or no degrade, although precautions must be taken to prevent blue stains. Kiln Schedules: The recommended temperatures for kiln drying 25 mm thick boards from green to 15% moisture content are dry bulb 80-90oC and wet bulb 55-65oC.

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

FR-6

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

1.5

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

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

1325

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

105976

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

560

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.

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

This species can be used for steam bending.

Response To Hand Tools

No particular problems.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

HOUSING GENERAL, panelling, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, decorative

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers
Paneling
  • 18 - W3TROPICOS Missouri Botanical Garden
Furniture Cabinets
  • 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Panels, Veneers
  • 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Decorative veneer
  • 28 - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest of Fiji

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