Scientific Name
Syzygium guineense
Trade Name
Eramori
Family Name
Myrtaceae
Synonyms
Syzygium owariense, Eugenia guineensis, Eugenia owariensis
Common Names
Eramori, Kalunginsanvu, Kano, Karumaa, Kokissa, Lamulii, Lematwet, Lemayua, Masai sambarau, Msambarao, Mshiui, Mshiwi, Muieri, Mukoi, Mukui, Mukute, Mureni, Muriru, Muziahi, Mzauri, Ol-eragai, Ol-lamati, Ol-lameli, Reberwo, Sinti, Water tree, Waterberry, Waterpeer, Woodland waterberry
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Concrete formwork, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Mine timbers, Paneling, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Railroad ties, Toys, Turnery, Veneer
Heartwood Color
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown |
Sapwood Color
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Paler than heartwood |
Grain
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Straight |
| Straight |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium |
Luster
| Medium |
Natural Durability
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Non durable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree | ||||||||||||
| Durable |
Light-Induced Color Change
| Darker | ||||||||||||
| Lighter |
Kiln Schedules
| UK=A US=T2D4/T2D3 Fr=1 | ||||||||||||
| Dry at a slow speed | ||||||||||||
| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow |
Drying Defects
| Moderate twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Slight surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Slight end splitting | ||||||||||||
| Moderate end spitting | ||||||||||||
| Moderate cupping |
Ease of Drying
| Slowly |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries slowly | ||||||||||||
| Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is fluted | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is buttressed | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is misshapen |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Boring
| Fairly easy to very easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Finishes well | ||||||||||||
| Easy to mortise |
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good finishing results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to mould |
Movement in Service
| Large |
Nailing
| Holds nails well | ||||||||||||
| Possible if prebored |
Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Planes to a satisfactory finish | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Sapwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is resistant | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is highly resistant |
Resistance to Splitting
| Poor |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine |
Sanding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Turning
| Poor results |
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = low | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = soft | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 10376 | 16163 | psi |
| Density | 45 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 995 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 3472 | 5777 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1883 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1665 | 1923 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 44 | 35 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 729 | 1136 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 721 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 451 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 244 | 406 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 132 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 117 | 135 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 705 | 560 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % |
References
Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers – the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building Research
Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London
Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda
Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 – 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi.
Palgrave, K.C.,1977,Trees of Southern Africa,Cape Town South Africa
Pardy, A.A.,1951,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs in Southern Rhodesia – Syzygium,guineense,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S.Rhodesia Bulletin No. 1637
Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l’Union Francaise,C.T.F.T
Takahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7
Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi
Tanzania Forestry Department,1963,Timbers of Tanganyika – Syzygium guineense,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi – Timbers of,Tanganyika
Wimbush, S.H.,1950,Catalogue of Kenya Timbers,Govt. Printer Nairobi Kenya