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SOBU (Cleistopholis glauca)

Trade Name

Sobu

Scientific Name

Cleistopholis glauca Pierre

Family

ANNONACEAE

Common Names

otu (Nigeria); Sobou (Côte d`Ivoire); Ovok (Gabon); Avom (Gabon); Lukunzu (Congo); Ovok (Cameroon); Avom (Cameroon); Sobu; Sobou; Otu; Lukunzu; Avom; Ovok

Scientific Name Synonyms

Cleistopholis grandiflora De Wild.; Cleistopholis bequaertii De Wild.; Cleistopholis bequaerti De Wild.

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The base of the tree is slightly thickened. The bole is straight and cylindrical, may be up to 20 m in length. The trunk diameter attains 80 cm.

Natural Habitat

Cleistopholis glauca occurs in evergreen forests, mainly along riverbanks, in dense forest, in semi-deciduous forest and in secondary formations.

Natural Distribution

West Africa, from Cameroon to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Plantations Available?

Considered as a promising species for plantation. The duration of the rotation is 15 to 20 years, to reach 60 cm in diameter.

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). Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel Axial parenchyma reticulate. Non-crystals in axial parenchyma cells. Axial parenchyma bands under 4 per mm. Rays less than 4 per mm (rare). Rays non-storied. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Heterogeneous rays and/or multiseriate heterogeneous rays. Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.

  • Wood Macro Photo Radial Plane
  • Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section

Availability

Cites Status

Unrestricted

General Wood Description

Color

The heartwood is whitish, it is not clearly demarcated.

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

6

Grain

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

Texture

This species is usually reported to have a coarse texture.

Luster

The surface of the wood is naturally low in luster.

Natural Durability

Not durable; important risks of decay attacks at any processing step, from logs up to final products. It must receive preservative treatment. Sensible to termites attack. Heartwood is sensible to Lyctus attacks.

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

5

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: 0.01

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)

0.34

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

0.35

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

7.5

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

3.4

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

FR-2

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

2.2

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

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

556

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

100692

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

285

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

29

Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

41

Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)

151

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

232

Workability

Sawing

It is easy to saw.

Rotary Veneer Cutting

Not suitable for veneering.

Sliced Veneer

Not suitable for veneering.

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

Easy to perform but low nails holding.

Gluing

Glues well if basic gluing technical rules are followed.

Sanding

Particular care is needed to avoid woolly aspect of the surface.

Polishing

Needs pre-coating.

Response To Hand Tools

No particular problems.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

FURNITURE AND CABINETS, common furniture, PACKING, light packing, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, door core, moldings, scale model

Furniture Cabinets
  • 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Furniture, Common
  • 23 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Packing
  • 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Light Packing
  • 46 - ECUADOR, Inventario y Aprovechamiento de los Bosques del Sur Ecuatoriano
Door Cores
  • 76 - Descripción General y Anatómica de 105 Maderas del Grupo Andino.
Molding
  • 79 - Padronização da Nomenclatura Comercial Brasileira das Madeiras Tropicais Amazônicas, Sugestão
Scale Models
  • 83 - Algunas caracteristicas fisicomecanicas de la madera de tres especies de la cordillera NeoVolcanica

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