Select Language:  

OLON (Fagara heitzii)

Trade Name

Olon

Scientific Name

Fagara heitzii Aubrev. et Pellegr.

Family

RUTACEAE

Common Names

Olon tendre (Gabon); Olon (Gabon); M'banza (Congo); Olon tendre; Nungo; Nongo-mpolo; Nongo; Nlo-mvoge; N`goung; N`dungu; Lisumba; Boungou petites feuilles; Kamasumu (Zaire); M`banza (Congo); Bongo (Cameroon); Olon

Scientific Name Synonyms

Fagara brieyi Vermoes. ex G. Gilbert

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The tree reaches a height of about 32 m. The bole is straight, cylindrical and unbuttressed. It may be up to 20 m in length. The trunk diameter attains 100 to 150 cm.

Natural Habitat

Species has a fairly wide range, but mainly occurs in the equatorial forests of Africa.

Natural Distribution

From Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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). Occasionally white deposits in heartwood vessels. Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforati Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. 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 4 seriate. Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-III). Fibers very thin walled. 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 heartwood is yellowish, white with greenish tinge, darkening slightly on exposure, it is not clearly demarcated. The silver figure is fine.

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

6

Grain

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

Texture

The wood is typically medium in texture.

Luster

Timber of this species 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

Internal Growth Stresses

For this species no growth stresses are reported.

Resistance To Impregnation

Moderately easy to treat with a partial penetration of the preservative products.

Wood Physical Properties

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

0.48

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

0.52

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

5.7

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

3.8

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying: Drying is rather slow and sometimes difficult to perform. Drying Defects: Risks of checks and distortions. Kiln Schedules: The kiln schedule has been tested.

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

FR-5

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

1.5

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

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

739

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

126477

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

452

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

54

Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

64

Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)

325

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

427

Workability

Sawing

It is easy to saw.

Rotary Veneer Cutting

Suitable for slicing and peeling.

Sliced Veneer

Suitable for slicing and peeling.

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

Easy; no particular problems.

Turning

30

Boring

Easy; no particular problems.

Mortising

Easy; no particular problems.

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.

Response To Hand Tools

No particular problems.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, boards, frames, steps, panelling, fittings, shutter boards, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, common furniture, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, faces, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, PACKING, heavy packing, pallets, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, door core, coffin, moldings, cementboard

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
Frames
  • 16 - Woods of the World
Steps
  • 17 - Tree Conservation Database
Paneling
  • 18 - W3TROPICOS Missouri Botanical Garden
Fittings
  • 19 - Silica in Timbers
Shutter Boards
  • 20 - Prospect: The wood database
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
Turning
  • 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
Ornaments
  • 31 - Embassy of Colombia in Japan
Packing
  • 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Heavy Packing
  • 47 - Arvores Brasileiras
Pallets
  • 48 - The strength properties of timbers
Door Cores
  • 76 - Descripción General y Anatómica de 105 Maderas del Grupo Andino.
Coffin
  • 78 - Amazonian Timbers for the International Market
Molding
  • 79 - Padronização da Nomenclatura Comercial Brasileira das Madeiras Tropicais Amazônicas, Sugestão
Cementboard
  • 81 - Madeiras da Amazônia: descrição do lenho de 40 espécies ocorrentes na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós

Please Provide Information To View Producer Information

* Or, continue as guest