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Family: Leguminosae
Other Names:
Distribution: Central and East Africa.
The Tree: This tree reaches a height of 50-60 ft (15-18m0 with a diameter of 18-24 in. (30-50cm) and a bole of 25-40 ft (8-12m).
The Timber: The sapwood is yellowish-white in color and clearly demarcated from the heartwood. Heartwood is pinkish-brown with darker streaks. The heartwood color ages to a rich mahogany reddish-brown with the streaks less obvious. The grain is interlocked and less figured than Bubinga (Guibourtia demeusei). The wood has a moderately fine texture.
Seasoning: Dries very slowly and requires care to avoid surface checking, but generally the degrade is minimal. The wood is stable in use.
Durability: Very durable; very resistant to fungal and insect attack. Sapwood moderately
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permeable to preservative treatments and heartwood extremely resistant.
Working Qualities: The timber works fairly easily with both hand and machine tools. A reduction in the cutting angle to 15 degrees is advisable to avoid picking up in machine planing, especially when the timber has interlocked grain. Takes a high varnish and polish.
Uses: Used principally for furniture, flooring, veneer and decorative constructions.
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