ZAIZOU (Gymnostemon zaizou)
Trade Name
Zaizou
Scientific Name
Gymnostemon zaizou Aubrev. et Pellegr.
Family
SIMAROUBACEAE
Common Names
Zaizou (Côte d`Ivoire); Zaizou
Scientific Name Synonyms
Mannia zaizou (Aubrev. & Pellegr.) Aubrev.
Description Of The Tree
Botanical Description
The tree reaches a height of 40 m. The bole is straight, cylindrical, with high buttresses up to 3.2 m. The trunk diameter attains 100 to 150 cm over the buttresses.
Natural Habitat
Gymnostemon zaizou occurs in swampy or periodically inundated forests. Often sparsely distributed over large areas of primitive forests.
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). Non-vestured pits. Vessels per mm2 less than 6 (rare). Simple perforation plates. Vessel-ray pits similar to intervessel Axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty and/or vasicentric. Axial parenchyma in thick bands. Prismatic crystals in short chains in chambered axial parenchyma cells. Occasionally siliceous bodies in the Rays non-storied. Larger rays more than 4 seriate. Occasionally silica bodies in the ray cells. Prismatic crystals in radial alignment in procumbent ray cells (chambered cells). Body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells (K Non-septate fibers. Fibers with simple to minutely bordered pits.
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Wood Macro Photo Radial Plane
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Wood Micro Photo Of Transversal Section
Availability
Cites Status
Unrestricted
General Wood Description
Color
The heartwood is yellowish white, it is not demarcated.
Grain
Straight; grain has no particular influence on drying, machining and finishing qualities.
Texture
The wood is typically coarse in texture.
Luster
This species is high in luster.
Natural Durability
Not durable; important risks of decay attacks at any processing step, from logs up to final products. It must receive preservative treatment. Sensible to termites attack.
Natural durability index (1= Very high durability, 7=Vey low durability)
5
Wood Physical Properties
Basic Density or Specific Gravity (O.D. weight/vol. green) (g/cm³)
0.37
Air-dry Density (Weight and volume at 12%MC) (g/cm³)
0.39
Total shrinkage Tangential (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
6.2
Total shrinkage Radial (Saturated to 0%MC) (%)
3.7
Drying Defects
Ease of Drying: It is reported that air drying of 13 mm and 38 mm thick boards took 3-4 months and 4-5 months respectively. Drying Defects: The wood is subject to degrade with moderately severe end-checking, slight cupping, bowing and splitting. During drying it is highly susceptible to sap-stain and insect attack.
Dimensional stability ratio (Total Tangential Shrinkage %/Total Radial Shrinkage %)
1.7
Wood Chemical Properties
Wood Mechanical Properties
Bending Strength (MOR),12%MC (kgf/cm²)
401
Stiffness (MOE) 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
62000
Compression parallel to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
230
Compression perpendicular to fiber 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
22
Shear strength radial 12%MC (kgf/cm²)
51
Janka hardness (side) 12%MC (kgf)
187
Janka hardness (end grain) 12%MC (kgf)
276
Workability
Sawing
It is easy to saw.
Rotary Veneer Cutting
Suitable for peeling after heat treatment.
Sliced Veneer
Suitable for peeling after heat treatment.
Blunting Effect
Slight blunting effect; ordinary tools can be used for sawing and machining.
Machining
Machining of this species is reportedly easy.
Planing
Easy; no particular problems.
Moulding
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Boring
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Mortising
Moderately easy; tools must be cautiously sharpened.
Nailing
No particular problem.
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
No particular problems.
REFERENCED USES
End Uses Summary
FURNITURE AND CABINETS, common furniture, PLYWOOD AND VENEER, faces, cores, PACKING, light packing
Furniture Cabinets
- 21 - Tropical timbers of the world. Part III-Southeast Asian and Oceanian Species.
Furniture, Common
- 23 - Handbook of Hardwoods
Panels, Veneers
- 25 - Directory of Timber Trade Malaysia
Faces
- 26 - Annual Review and Assessment of the World Timber Situation 1998-ITTO
Cores
- 27 - Embassy of Brazil in Japan
Packing
- 45 - Recopilación y Análisis de Estudios Tecnológicos de Maderas Peruanas
Light Packing
- 46 - ECUADOR, Inventario y Aprovechamiento de los Bosques del Sur Ecuatoriano
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