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Vésambata
Oldfieldia africana Benth. et Hook.
EUPHORBIACEAE
Turtosa (Sierra Leone); Paulai (Sierra Leone); Kpaolai (Sierra Leone); Paulai (Liberia); Kpaolai (Liberia); Dantoué (Côte d`Ivoire); Vésambata (Congo); Turtosa; Tortorza; Tanalia; Saye; Saintue; Rla; Real African oak; Pau-lai; Mbaimba; Kpaolai; Ka-tosa; Fu; Fou; Etui; Etu; Esui; Esson fu; Esson; Dantoue; Angouran; African teak; African oak
The tree reaches a height of 43 m. Boles up to 26 m in length, usually straight but fluted over its total height. The trunk diameter may attain up to 200 cm.
Oldfieldia africana is common in rain forests and transitional formations.
West Africa, especially in Gabon.
Wood diffuse porous. Occasionally vessels exclusively solitary (over 90%). Tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100 micras or less (very small). White deposits in heartwood vessels. Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 more than 20 (very abundant). Simple perfora Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse and/or diffuse in aggregates. Axial parenchyma in discontinuous tangential lines. Occasionally prismatic crystals in non-chambered axial parenchyma cells. Prismatic crystals in short chains in chambered axial parenchyma c Rays more than 10 per mm (abundant). Rays non-storied. Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
Unrestricted
The sapwood is pale red. The heartwood is dark red-brown, sometimes with a purple tinge, it is clearly demarcated.
Straight or slightly interlocked, sometimes with an influence on further processing operations.
Medium texture is reported in this species.
Luster is usually low.
Very durable to decay; without preservative treatment. This species is especially suited for all the uses with risks of permanent or long-lasting humidification. Resistant to termites attack. Heartwood is resistant to Lyctus attacks.
1
Residual stresses are reported to be absent.
Silica Content: Silica content is negligible. Amounts over 0.05% may affect wood processing. Silica Value: 0.01
Difficult to treat with only a low penetration of the preservative products.
0.79
0.91
9.5
5.5
Ease of Drying: Drying is moderately easy; some particular care is needed. Drying Defects: No particular risks of drying defects, subject to normal drying conditions. Kiln Schedules: The kiln schedule has been tested.
FR-8
1.7
1408
183519
782
113
102
1034
1074
Sawing of this species requires powerful equipment.
Not suitable for veneering.
Not suitable for veneering.
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.
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Pre-boring is necessary.
Difficult to glue because of high density.
Easy to perform; it gives good results.
Can be polished without surface preparation.
Working with hand tools is difficult.
EXTERIOR GENERAL, bridges, poles, paling, stakes posts, rails, crossarms, crossties, piers, HOUSING GENERAL, beams, joists, boards, flooring, parquet, frames, CONTAINERS, truck bodies, truck flooring
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