Afrika

Tree Data
The tree is smaller than other Afzelias, and is sometimes of poorer stem form. It attains a height of up to 100 feet (30 m), but is usually 40 feet (12 m) in the drier regions within its range.

Boles are reported to seldom be longer than 30 feet (15 m).

Sapwood Color
The sapwood is pale straw or pale yellow to whitish in color, and is sharply demarcated from the heartwood. Sapwood averages about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in width.

Heartwood Color
The heartwood is light brown in color, turning reddish-brown upon exposure, and is sharply demarcated from the sapwood.

Grain
The grain is straight to moderately interlocked, or irregular.

Texture
The wood has a moderately coarse, even texture.

Luster
The wood is of medium luster.

Odor
Odor and taste are usually indistinct.

Movement in Service
The timber has good dimensional stability, and is reported to show only small movement after manufacture.

Natural Durability
The heartwood is very durable. it is moderately resistant to attack by termites, but is susceptible to attack by powder post beetles.

Resistance to Impregnation
The heartwood is extremely resistant to impregnation or preservative treatment. The sapwood is moderately treatable.

Effect on Textiles
The wood contains a yellow dye-stuff (afzelin) which can stain textile materials under moist conditions.

Toxic Constituents
Sawdust produced from machining operations has been reported to cause irritation in some individuals.

Veneering Qualities
The wood is reported to be unsuitable for plywood manufacture because it is very dense and difficult to glue.

Strength Properties
The species has very high bending strength, and is much stronger than Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). It has exceptionally high maximum crushing strength (compression parallel to grain) in the air-dry condition. It is hard - harder than Hard maple or Teak. It is quite resistant to denting. It is a very heavy wood. The species has very high density.

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