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Umgusi
Baikiaea plurijuga Harms
LEGUMINOSAE
Rhodesian teak (United Kingdom); Mukusi (Germany); Nkoba (Uganda); Zambrezi redwood (Zimbabwe); Umgusi (Zimbabwe); Mukusi (Zimbabwe)
The tree is small, from 15 to 20 m in height with a short bole of 3 to 5 m. The trunk diameter is usually under 50 cm.
Baikiaea plurijuga occurs in dry regions of open forests. It is reported up to 900 to 1,200 m of altitude.
Zambia and Zimbabwe and bordering areas to the west.
Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 micras or less (very small). Red-colored deposits in heartwood vessels. Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 more than 20 (very abundant). Simple perfo Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform. Axial parenchyma confluent. Axial parenchyma storied. 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 storied. Rays commonly 2 seriate. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Unrestricted
The sapwood is pale brown-pink, it has a thickness of 2.5 to 4 cm. The heartwood is brown-red turning dark red on exposure and sometimes marked with irregular brown lines, it is clearly demarcated.
Straight or slightly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.
This species is usually reported to have a fine texture.
The surface of the wood is naturally low in luster.
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.
1
Nearly impossible to treat with a too much low penetration of the preservative substances.
0.79
0.90
Ease of Drying: The rate of shrinkage is medium. Drying is easy to moderately difficult. Drying Defects: Some drying defects such as end-checking, splitting , cupping and springing may occur. Weighting down of stacks during air drying is recommended to reduce the tendency of the timber to warp and twist. Kiln Schedules: Mild kiln schedule are requiring in drying. In Malaysia, kiln schedule C is considered most suitable.
859
86442
675
Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.
Suitable for slicing.
Suitable for slicing.
Moderate blunting effect; stellited blades for sawing and carbide tools for machining are advised.
It needs powerful tools for processing. Possible difficulties caused by interlocked grain are reported.
Easy; no particular problems.
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
30
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Pre-boring is necessary.
Glues well if basic gluing technical rules are followed.
Easy to perform; it gives good results.
Can be polished without surface preparation.
Working with hand tools is difficult.
EXTERIOR GENERAL, poles, stakes posts, crossties, HOUSING GENERAL, parquet, fittings, FURNITURE AND CABINETS, cabinets, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, TURNING, PACKING, CONTAINERS, cooperage, truck bodies, truck flooring, NAVAL CONSTRUCTION, boats, OTHER AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, handicrafts
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