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WENGé (Millettia laurentii)

Trade Name

Wengé

Scientific Name

Millettia laurentii De Wild.

Family

LEGUMINOSAE

Common Names

Wengè (France); Wengè (United Kingdom); Wengè (Germany); Wengè (Zaire); Wengè (Congo); Awoung (Cameroon); Tshikalakala; Otogo; Nsou-so; Nson-so; N`toka; N`gondou; Mukonde mutshi; Monkonge; Kiboto; Bwengu; Awong; Anong; Panga-panga (United Kingdom); Panga-panga (Germany); Panga-panga (France); Wenge (United Kingdom); Wenge (Germany); Wenge (France); Mpande (Tanzania); Jambire (Mozambique); Wenge (Zaire); Wenge (Congo)

Description Of The Tree

Botanical Description

The tree reaches a height of 16 to 32 m. The bole is usually straight, unbuttressed. The trunk diameter attains 100 cm.

Natural Habitat

Millettia laurentii is found in semi-deciduous, sometimes in periodically inundated swampy forests. It is known or inferred that the harvesting of specimens from the wild for international trade has, or may have, a detrimental impact on the species by EI

Natural Distribution

Central Africa and southern regions of Tanzania, Mozambique, also in the Republic of Congo.

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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). White deposits in heartwood vessels. Vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel- Axial parenchyma in thick bands. Axial parenchyma storied. Two cells per parenchyma strand. Axial parenchyma bands more than 3 cells wide. 4 to 10 rays per mm (medium). Rays storied. Rays 1 to 4 seriate. Homogeneous rays and/or sub-homogeneous rays (all ray cells procumbent). Body ray cells procumbent with over 4 rows of upright and/or square marginal cells (Kribs-I). 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 sapwood is whitish, it has a thickness of 2 to 3 cm. The heartwood is yellowish brown toning down to purplish brown, with pink-brown thin stripes, it is clearly demarcated.

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

2

Grain

Straight; grain has no particular influence on drying, machining and finishing qualities.

Texture

The texture of the wood is frequently coarse.

Natural Durability

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.

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

1

Internal Growth Stresses

No residual growth stresses are found.

Silica Content

Silica Content: This timber is reported to have a negligible silica content. Silica contents 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)

0.77

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

0.87

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

9.1

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

5.9

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying: Drying is moderately easy; some particular care is needed. Drying Defects: Risks of checks. Kiln Schedules: Schedule proposed as a reference by comparison with well known species taking into account to the general technological behavior of this species.

Recommended Dry Kiln Schedule

FR-13

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

1.5

Wood Chemical Properties

Wood Mechanical Properties

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

1464

Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

214523

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

865

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

129

Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)

118

Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)

949

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

1003

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

Rather difficult; special tools are needed.

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 high density.

Sanding

Easy to perform; it gives good results.

Polishing

Needs pre-coating.

Response To Hand Tools

Working with hand tools is difficult.

REFERENCED USES

End Uses Summary

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

General Housing
  • 10 - Silica in Timbers
Boards
  • 13 - Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods. Temperate and tropical. Section III. Latin American (Mexico, Central, and South America) Woods–Conventional Temperatures
Flooring
  • 14 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Parquet
  • 15 - Empire Timbers
Frames
  • 16 - Woods of the World
Steps
  • 17 - Tree Conservation Database
Paneling
  • 18 - W3TROPICOS Missouri Botanical Garden
Fittings
  • 19 - Silica in Timbers
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
Lasts
  • 34 - Embassy of Indonesia 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.)

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