Scientific Name
Amblygonocarpus andongensis
Trade Name
Banga wanga
Family Name
Leguminosae
Synonyms
Tetrapleura nilotica, Tetrapleura obtusangula, Amblygonocarpus obtusangulus, Amblygonocarpus schweinfurthii
Common Names
Banga wanga, Bangawanga, Mecuria, Metindire, Mjerigwe, Mubaimbai, Mubayibayi, Mululwe, Munjoujota, Munyenye, Mutiria, Muwaka, Muyu, Scotsmans rattle, Umnonjwana
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Carvings, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Poles, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Reddish brown | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown | ||||||||||||
| Brown |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow |
Grain
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Weak (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Other (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) |
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Weak figure | ||||||||||||
| Other figure | ||||||||||||
| Generally straight, but not always | ||||||||||||
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Distinct figure |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium | ||||||||||||
| Coarse |
Luster
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack |
Marine borer attack = moderately resistant
Toxicity
| Some toxic effects | ||||||||||||
| Unspecified toxicity |
Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed | ||||||||||||
| Uk=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2 |
Drying Defects
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Moderate surface checking |
Ease of Drying
| Slowly |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries slowly |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 0-10 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
Product Sources
The timber is commercially available on the South-western pacific region market, but it appears to be traded in rather small quantities on a world-wide basis. A limited amount of White cheesewood has been salvaged from the Fairchild Tropical Gardens in Florida after the 1993 hurricane ‘Andrew’ destruction.
White cheesewood is often sold in mixed consignments with another very similar species in the Alstonia genus, A. spatulata . The timber has been formerly used for boxes to ship bulk tea from Sri-lanka.
Blunting Effect
| High to severe | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe |
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to glue |
Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement | ||||||||||||
| Small | ||||||||||||
| Stable |
Nailing
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Pre-boring recommended | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to nail |
Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to plane | ||||||||||||
| Planes well, to a good finish |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is resistant | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood has low permeability |
Response to Hand Tools
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to machine | ||||||||||||
| Variable qualities |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Varnishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry Weight) = >50 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = very small | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = Hard | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 11442 | 17761 | psi |
| Density | 61 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 2940 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6899 | 9945 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 2525 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1916 | 2208 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 60 | 50 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 804 | 1248 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 977 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 1333 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 485 | 699 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 177 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 134 | 155 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 961 | 801 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 4 | % |
References
Banks, C.H. and J.P. Schoeman. 1963. Railway Sleeper and Crossing Timbers. Bulletin No. 41, Republic of South Africa. The Government Printer, Pretoria, South Africa.
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
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
Bryce, J.M.,1967,Commercial Timbers of Tanzania,Tanzanian Forestry Division Util. Sec. Moshi
Dalziel, J.M.,1937,The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa,Crown Agents for the Colonies
Eggeling, W.J.,1940,Indigenous Trees of Uganda,Govt. Printer Entebbe Uganda
Fanshawe, D.B.,1962,Fifty Common Trees of Northern Rhodesia,Natural Resources Board and Forestry Department, Ndola
Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO
Ferreirinha, M.P.,1955,Catalogo des Madeiras de Mocambique (pt 1,Min. do Ultramar Junta Invest. do Ultranar Memorias Serie Botanica, 2
Ferreirinha, M.P.,1956,Madeiras do Ultramar Portugues,Garcia de Orta Revista da Junta Missoes Geog…,4(1,pp95-6
Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1954,Hardwoods for Industrial Flooring,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Leaflet, No.48
Fortin, Y., Poliquin, J.,1976,Natural Durability and Preservation of 100 Tropical African Woods,International Development Research Centre, Canada
France – C.T.F.T.,1962,Banga-Wanga,C.T.F.T.,Information Technique,No.167
Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9
Irvine, F.R.,1961,Woody Plants of Ghana,O.U.P. London
Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 – 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi.
Pardy, A.A.,1954,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia – Androstachys,johnsonii (Prain,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1751
Pardy, A.A.,1956,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin,No.1897
Storrs, A.E.G.,1979,Know your Trees – Some of the Common Trees found in Zambia,Zambia Forestry Department, Ndola
Tanzania Forest Department,1960,The Natural Durability of Local Timbers,Tanzanian Forest Dept. Tech. Note,No.14
Tanzania Forest Department,1966,Flooring Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi – Timbers of Tanganyika
Tanzania Forest Division,1967,The Weights and Shrinkage of some Local Timbers,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sect. Technical Note,No.25
White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London
Zambia Forest Department,1979,Timbers of Zambia Adina microcephala and Amblygonocarpus andongensis,Zambia Forest Department, Division of Forest Products Research, Timbers of,Zambia Technical Note no.5/79