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TAMBOTI (Spirostachys africana)

Trade Name

Tamboti

Scientific Name

Spirostachys africana Sond.

Family

EUPHORBIACEAE

Common Names

Sandalo africano (Portugal); Tambootie (Uganda); Mtomboti (Uganda); Tambootie (Tanzania); Mtomboti (Tanzania); Tambootie (Kenya); Mtomboti (Kenya); Tambootie (Ethiopia); Mtomboti (Ethiopia); Muconite (Mozambique); Omupapa (Angola)

Scientific Name Synonyms

Stillingia africana (Sond.) Baill.; Excoecaria africana (Sond.) Muell. Arg.

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The tree reaches a height of 12 to 15 m. The bole is straight, fluted, up to 6 m in length. The trunk diameter is 40 to 80 cm.

Natural Habitat

Spirostachys africana occurs in savanna forests and the coastal belt of the tropical zone.

Wood Identification

Anatomic Description Of Wood

Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 micras or less (very small). Black-colored deposits in heartwood vessels. Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 more than 20 (very abundant). Simple Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse and/or diffuse in aggregates. Prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. Prismatic crystals in short chains in chambered axial parenchyma cells. 3 to 4 cells per parenchyma strand. Rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Rays non-storied. Rays exclusively uniseriate. Prismatic crystals in radial alignment in procumbent ray cells (chambered cells). Prismatic crystals in the ray cells. Heterogeneous rays and/or multiseriate heterogeneous rays Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.

Availability

Cites Status

Unrestricted

General Wood Description

Odor

Pleasant odor.

Color

The sapwood is white, it has a thickness of 2.5 to 5 cm. The heartwood is dark brown, almost black, it is clearly demarcated.

Grain

Wavy; special care is needed when machining in order to obtain satisfying quality surface.

Texture

This species is usually reported to have a fine texture.

Natural Durability

Durable to decay; this species can be utilized without preservative treatment for exterior joinery or similar uses. Resistant to termites attack. Heartwood is resistant to Lyctus attacks.

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

1

Resistance To Impregnation

Nearly impossible to treat with a too much low penetration of the preservative substances.

Wood Physical Properties

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying: Air-seasoning difficult. Kiln-seasoning recommended

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

FR-9

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

Workability

Sawing

Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.

Rotary Veneer Cutting

Suitable for slicing.

Sliced Veneer

Suitable for slicing.

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

Easy; no particular problems.

Moulding

Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.

Turning

30

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 the extracts content.

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

HOUSING GENERAL, flooring, parquet, steps, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, luxury furniture, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, Decorative veneer, TURNING, ornaments, turned furniture, cutlery, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts, moldings

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers
Flooring
  • 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Parquet
  • 15 - Empire Timbers
Steps
  • 17 - Tree Conservation Database
Furniture Cabinets
  • 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Furniture, Luxury
  • 22 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section IV-Asian and Oceanian Woods
Cabinet
  • 24 - Empire Timbers
Panels, Veneers
  • 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Decorative veneer
  • 28 - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forest of Fiji
Turning
  • 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
Ornaments
  • 31 - Embassy of Colombia in Japan
Turned Articles
  • 32 - Embassy of Cote d`Ivoire in Japan
Knife Handles
  • 33 - Embassy of Gabon in Japan
Handcraft
  • 66 - Maderas latinoamericanas. VII. Caracteristicas anatomicas. propiedades fisicomecanicas, de secado, y tratabilidad de la madera juvenil de Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav. Oken.)
Molding
  • 79 - Padronização da Nomenclatura Comercial Brasileira das Madeiras Tropicais Amazônicas, Sugestão

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