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Family: Leguminosae (legume)
Other Names: Jambrie, messara.
Distribution: East Africa.
The Tree: Millettia stuhlmanii and Millettia laurentii (Wenge) come from trees of modest size, reaching 60 ft (18m) in height and logs with 1’-8” (50cm) to 2’-0” (60cm) in diameter.
The Timber: Panga Panga and wenge have similar properties; both are brown to almost black with a distinctive appearance due to lines of paler tissue. They are coarse and somewhat variable in texture, but the grain is usually straight. Both are dense woods, panga panga being 10% and wenge 20% heavier than Oak. Panga panga weighs 50 lb/ft3 (800 kg/m3) when seasoned. It is reported that Panga Panga keeps its color better than Wenge.
Seasoning: Both dry slowly and require care to avoid surface checking, but generally the degrade is minimal. The wood is stable in use.
Durability: The wood is very durable; very resistant to insects and fungal attack. Sapwood moderately permeable to preservative treatments.
Workability: Hard to saw and plane. Nails are difficult to drive and cannot be screwed without drilling. Glues well. Polishes well and takes a high varnish.
Uses: Used principally for furniture, flooring, veneer and decorative constructions.
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