Burkea africana

Burkea

Family: Leguminosae

Other Common Names: Mgando, Mkarati, Msangala (Tanzania).

Distribution: Widely distributed in dry savanna forests from Nigeria southward to to Transvaal.

The Tree: A small to medium-sized tree, 50 to 70 ft in height, with a bole length of 15 to 20 ft; trunk diameters 1 to 2 ft. Heart of the tree is often decayed.

The Wood:

General Characteristics: Heartwood dark brown or reddish brown; sapwood whitish or yellowish, not always sharply defined. Texture moderately fine; grain interlocked wavy; lustrous.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.60 to 0.80; air- dry density 46 to 61 pcf.

Mechanical Properties: No information available.

Drying and Shrinkage: Dries rather rapidly with little warping or splitting. Kiln schedule T2-C2 is suggested for 414 stock. Shrinkage green to 12% moisture content; radial 1.2%; tangential 2.1%. Little movement in service.

Working Properties: Not difficult to saw but is difficult to work with hand and machine tools, tends to tear in planing, glues well, takes a good finish.

Durability: Heartwood is rated as very durable and is immune to termite attack.

Preservation: Heartwood is extremely resistant to preservative treatments, sapwood permeable.

Uses: Parquet flooring, fine cabinet and furniture work, joinery, railroad crossties, mining timbers.

Additional Reading: (3), (6), (62)