Turreanthus africanus

Avodire

Family: Meliaceae

Other Common Names: Blimah-pu (Liberia), Apapaye (Ghana), Lusamba (Zaire), Apaya (Nigeria).

Distribution: From Sierra Leone to the Congo region and Angola; most common in the eastern region of the Ivory Coast, scattered elsewhere. Found near streams and lakes.

The Tree: Reaches a height of 115 ft; bole usually irregular, clear to 50 ft; fluted; trunk diameter 2 to 3 ft.

The Wood:

General Characteristics: Heartwood creamy white to pale yellow, darkening to a gold yellow; sapwood not differentiated. Texture moderately fine, grain straight, wavy, or irregularly interlocked; high natural luster; has an attractive mottled figure if quartered.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.48; air-dry density 36 pcf.

Mechanical Properties: (2-cm standard)

Moisture content Bending strength Modulus of elasticity Maximum crushing strength

(%) (Psi) (1,000 psi) (Psi)

12% (9) 13,400 1,390 7,450

12% (47) 19,200 1,750 8,800

12% (44) 14,400 NA 7,050

Janka side hardness 1,080 lb for dry material. Amsler toughness 160 to 220 in.-lb. 12% moisture content (2-cm specimen).

Drying and Shrinkage: Dries fairly rapidly with some tendency to warp, existing end checks are liable to extend. Kiln schedule T6-D2 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T3-D1 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 4.6%; tangential 6.7%; volumetric 12.0%. Movement in service is rated as small.

Working Properties: Timber saws well and easy to work with hand and machine tools, planing a cutting angle of 15 to 20 degrees is suggested to avoid tearing of interlocked grain, good gluing and veneering properties. Dermatitis, nosebleeding, and other symptoms reported in woodworkers.

Durability: Heartwood is nondurable; reported to be moderately resistant to nonresistant to termite attack.

Preservation: Heartwood extremely resistant to preservative treatments; sapwood permeable.

Uses: Furniture, fine joinery, decorative veneers, cabinetwork, paneling.

Additional Reading: (3), (9), (44), (47)

M 150 282-3Logs are delivered to a sawmill in southern Nigeria. African mahogany

(mostly Khaya ivorensis) is in high demand on overseas markets. Export of logs fro

this region, as well as from most other tropical areas, is being restricted.

M 150 282-2Band mills in Ghana are designed to handle logs 5 feet and more in

diameter. Obeche or Wawa (Triplochiton scleroxylon) logs yield lumber favored for

joinery and millwork.