Afzelia Africana (Afzelia)

Scientific Name
Afzelia africana

Trade Name
Afzelia

Family Name
Leguminosae

Synonyms
Afrafzelia africana

Common Names
Adja, Adya, Afzelia, Ahanta, Aja, Akpalata, Akpela, Aligna, Alinyan, Apa, Appa, Arachi, Ariyan, Ayan, Azza, Baa, Bachi, Balawao-kudu, Balawo-kudu, Beyo, Bilinga, Bodjembo, Bolengo, Bolengu, Counter wood, Douissie, Doussie, Fok, Gayo, Gayohi, Gbende, Gbleteo, Gongo, Hol, Kakala, Kapalaga, Kawo, Kinkalaga, Kontah, Kpa-kpa, Kpalga, Kpaliga, Kpendei, Kpendi-deli, Kpendi-guli, Kpendi-kpoli, Kuanguli, Kukpalik, Lengko, Lengue, Lingue, Liwamba, M’banga, Mahogany bean, Mahogany bean tree, Mbokora, Mboro, Meli, Mkola, Mussacosa, N’kokongo, Nenko, Ngboro, Olombi, Opapao, Opapeh, Pai, Papao, Papao-baum, Papawe, Papoa, Pau contra, Pau konta, Pauconta, Pepe, Rhodesian mahogany, Upa, Uvala, Wokpa, Yada, Yoruba bilinga

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Benin, Central African Republic, Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chemical containers, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Concrete formwork, Construction, Cooperages, Decks, Decorative plywood, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Exterior trim & siding, Exterior uses, Factory construction, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Joists, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: percussion, Paneling, Particleboard, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Tables, Tool handles, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction

Environmental Profile

Distribution Overview
This widespread species occurs in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, C�te d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda and Zaire. In Ghana, the species is usually found in dry forest, especially in the forest-savanna borders. It tends to be scattered in areas with rocky soils. It can also be found in dense evergreen forests, especially from Senegal to Sudan, but by also be present in the east African coastal forests.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

Averages about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in width

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Growth Defects

Natural Durability

Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles

Odor

Light-Induced Color Change

Toxicity

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

Product Sources
Exported on a regular basis.

Certified Source

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

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

Blunting Effect

Boring

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

Reduced cutting angle of 15 degrees to prevent torn grain.

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Sanding

The material works to a smooth finish

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Painting

Polishing

Staining

Yellow or white deposits in pores can make staining especially difficult

Varnishing

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
Ashiabor, W.K.,1968,The Properties of Afzelia africana, Anogeissus leiocarpus, Cynometra,anata, Guibourtia ehie, Tectona grandis,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Ghana Tech. Note,No.6

Bentum, A.L.K.,1969,Properties of Ghanaian Timbers : Afzelia Spp. notably Afzelia africana,Smith,Ghana Forest Products Research Institute Technical Newsletter,3(3&4,pp16-18

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

Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University

Chalk, L.,1933,Twenty West African Timber Trees,Forest Trees and Timbers of the British Empire,Part 2

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

Clifford, N.,1953,Commercial Hardwoods – Their Characteristics Identification and,Utilization,Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd. London

Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

France – C.T.F.T.,1959,Bois a Parquets,C.T.F.T.,Information Tec.,No.6

France – C.T.F.T.,1960,Resultats des Observation et des essais effectues au CTFT sur Lingue,C.T.F.T.,Information Technique, No.66

France – C.T.F.T.,1963,Resultats des Observations et des Essais Effectues au C.T.F.T. sur le,Doussie,: Afzelia Sp.,C.T.F.T.,Information Tec., No.184

France – C.T.F.T.,1977,Promotion of African Timbers – New Species,CTFT,35 Leaflets

France – C.T.F.T.,Promotion of Zaire Timbers. New Series (Leaflets,C.T.F.T.

Ghana – Timber Marketing Board,1969,Ghana Hardwoods,Timber Marketing Board

Gotz, E.,1983,Timber trees of the Gambia,Stiftung Walderhaltung in Afrika and Bundesforschungsanstalt fur Forst-,und Holzwirtschaft

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.

Imperial Institute,1923,Results of the Examination of Nigerian Timbers,Bulletin of the Imperial Institute,21(3, pp444-61

Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London

ITTO. 1986. Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 – Africa. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France.

Jay, B.A.,1968,Timbers of West Africa,TRADA, Red Booklet Series

Keay, R.W.J. 1989. Trees of Nigeria. Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford.

Kinloch, D., Miller, W.A.,1949,Gold Coast Timbers,Govt. Printer Gold Coast

Kloot, N. H. and E. Bolza. 1961. Properties of Timbers Imported into Australia. Technological Paper No. 12. Division of Forest Products, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.

Kryn, J.M., Forbes, E.W.,1959,The Woods of Liberia,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,Forest Products Laboratory, Madison,,Report No. 2159

Lavers, G. M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.

Lincoln, W. A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.

McCoy-Hill, M.,1962,The Protection of Timber from Marine Borer Damage in East African,Waters,8th Brit. Commw. Forestry Conf. East Africa

Okeke, R.E.,1966,Comparative Anatomy of three Nigerian Afzelia Species,Department of Forest Research, Ibadan, Nigeria, Forest Products Research,Laboratory Report No.9

Portugal – Min. do Ultramar,1956,Essencias Florestais da Guine Portuguesa,Min. do Ultramar Jardin e Museu Agriccola do Ultramar

Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l’Union Francaise,C.T.F.T

Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23

Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T.

Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1956,Survey of African woods 1,Tropical Woods,115(105,pp 13-38

Tack, C.H.,1969,Uganda Timbers,Govt. Printer Uganda

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

Uganda Forest Department,1954,Flooring Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.17

Uganda Forest Department,1954,The Mechanical Properties of some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forest Department Timber Leaflet,No.1

Uganda Forest Department,1969,The Shrinkage of Some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.47

Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London

WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing – Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.

Wigg, L.T.,1946,Durability of some East African Timbers,East African Agricultural Journal,12,pp90-100, (Now East,African Agricultural and Forestry Journal)

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