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TSANA (Blighia welwitschii)
Trade Name
Tsana
Scientific Name
Blighia welwitschii Radlk.
Family
SAPINDACEAE
Common Names
Ukpe (Nigeria); Ishin (Nigeria); Akee (Ghana); Kaha (Côte d`Ivoire); Ngwin (Gabon); Ekom (Gabon); Akee (Cameroon); Tsana
Scientific Name Synonyms
Phialodiscus welwitschii Hiern; Phialodiscus bancoensis Aubrev & Pellegr.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches a height of 50 m, with diameters which can be over 300 cm. The bole is cylindrical, buttressed, and straight, it may be up to 20 m in length.
Natural Habitat
Blighia welwitschii is reported in closed forests, primary and secondary formations, and on plateaus at 450 to 600 m of altitude.
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. Tyloses thin walled. Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (ra Axial parenchyma absent or extremely rare, non visible with magnifying glass (8x). Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. 5 to 8 cells per parenchyma strand. Rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Rays non-storied. Rays 1 to 2 seriate. Prismatic crystals in the ray cells. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Septate fibers present. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The sapwood is pinkish yellow, it has a thickness of up to 10 cm. The heartwood is reddish brown with white specks, it is clearly demarcated.
Grain
Straight; grain has no particular influence on drying, machining and finishing qualities.
Texture
The wood is mostly medium in texture.
Luster
The wood is described as 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. Heartwood is sensible to Lyctus attack
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
3
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.80
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.91
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: Schedule proposed as a reference by comparison with well known species taking into account to the general technological behavior of this species.
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
1161
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
189716
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
845
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
125
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
1040
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
1079
Workability
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.
Planing
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
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
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
Working with hand tools is difficult.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
HOUSING GENERAL, parquet, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, TURNING, SPORTS, TOOLS, tool handles, CONTAINERS, truck bodies, truck flooring, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boats
General Housing
- 10 - Silica in Timbers
Parquet
- 15 - Empire Timbers
Fittings
- 19 - Silica in Timbers
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Cabinet
- 24 - Empire Timbers
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Turning
- 30 - Embassy of Honduras in Japan
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)
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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