Gonioma kamassi (Kamassi boxwood)

Scientific Name
Gonioma kamassi

Trade Name
Kamassi boxwood

Family Name
Apocynaceae

Common Names
African boxwood, Boxwood, Cape boxwood, East London boxwood, Kamassi, Kamassi boxwood, Kamassie, Kamassihout, Knysna, Knysna boxwood

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
South Africa, Swaziland

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Carvings, Engraving, Flooring, Food containers, Furniture, Handles, Joinery, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Musical instruments, Precision instruments, Shade rollers, Shafts/Handles, Shuttles, Sills, Specialty items, Sporting Goods, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts

Environmental Profile

Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable or Rare within its natural growth range in Swaziland. Its status in South Africa is currently unknown because of inadequate information

Distribution Overview
Confined mainly to the midland coastal districts of South Africa.

Heartwood Color

The heartwood is a uniform yellow or yellow-brown color. The presence of incipient decay may produce a greenish tinge

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Growth Defects
Incipient decay often discolors the center of logs

Natural Durability

Untreated wood is prone to staining and severe splitting.

Odor

Toxicity

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Rapid drying may cause excessive surface checking and severe splitting.

Ease of Drying

Timber is reported to season well, with few defects if dried slowly.

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Size

The timber is available in logs of small sizes only, often up to 10 inches (25 cm) in diameter. Logs are often fluted and of poor form.

Product Sources
The timber is exported from South Africa in small quantities at a regular rate. It is usually shipped in squared billets cut to small sizes for manufacture.

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

Blunting Effect

Boring

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Logs left exposed for long periods of time tend to develop deep splits along their entire length. Combined with spiral grain, this may cause a high percentage of waste factor during conversion.
Waste Factor

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

The material planes with some difficulty. It has a tendency to ride on cutters.

Resistance to Impregnation

Resistance to Splitting

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

The timber is reported to turn exceptionally well, and is a preferred stock in making precision instruments. Also used for engraving and shuttles.

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Polishing

Staining

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48

Banks, C.H.,1954,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with Particular Reference to those,grown in the Union of South Africa,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No. 24 pp.44-65,[South,African Forestry Journal]

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

Bolza, E.,1976,Timber and Health,Div. Building Res. C.S.I.R.O. Australia

Chalk, L. et al.,1935,Fifteen South African High Forest Timber Trees,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire, Imperial Forestry,Institute, Oxford,Part 3

Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.

Cox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough

Desch, H.E.,1948,The Boxwoods,Wood,13(5,pp130-1

Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1955,Kiln-Drying Schedules,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment Leaflet,No.42

Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment

HMSO. 1972. Handbook of Hardwoods. 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed.

Palgrave, K.C.,1977,Trees of Southern Africa,Cape Town South Africa

Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press

Record, S.J., Mell, C.D.,1924,Timbers of Tropical America,Yale Univ. Press

Scott, M.H. 1953. Utilization Notes on South African Timbers. Bulletin No. 36. Department of Forestry, Union of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa.

Scott, M.H.,1935,Weights of South African Growth Timbers,South African Department of Agriculture and Forestry Bulletin,No.145,Forest Products Institute, Forestry Series No.1

Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36

Sim, T.R.,1906,The Forests and Forest Flora of Cape Colony,Taylor & Henderson, Aberdeen

Sim, T.R.,1921,Native Trees of South Africa,Union of South Africa Department of Mines and Industries Memoir No.3

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

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

Wood, B., Calnan, D.,1976,Toxic Woods,British Journal of Dermat 94 Suppl. 13