Scientific Name
Cordia millenii
Trade Name
African cordia
Family Name
Boraginaceae
Common Names
African cordia, Akaboa, Aliiba, Cordia, Cordia d’Afrique, Ebais, Ebe, Ketumba, Mujugangoma, Mukebu, Mukumari, Mungoma, Mutumba, Omah, Omo, Omon, Sumba, West African cordia
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda
Common Uses
Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Furniture, Joinery, Musical instruments: percussion, Veneer: decorative
Environmental Profile
| Vulnerable | ||||||||||||
| Extinct | ||||||||||||
| Abundant/Secure | ||||||||||||
| Endangered |
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown |
Sapwood Color
| Paler than heartwood |
Grain
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Stripe (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Rays (figure) |
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Striped figure | ||||||||||||
| Rays figure |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Uniform | ||||||||||||
| Even or uniform | ||||||||||||
| Coarse |
Luster
| Lustrous |
Natural Growth Defects
| Brittleheart is often frequent and extensive |
Natural Durability
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to pinhole borers | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to wood staining fungal attack | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
Silica Content
| High | ||||||||||||
| Siliceous |
Kiln Schedules
| UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S | ||||||||||||
| Drying (speed) is fast | ||||||||||||
| Dry at a slow speed |
Drying Defects
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Slight twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Slight spring/bow |
Ease of Drying
| Reconditioning Treatement | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is cylindrical | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 30-40 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| High to severe | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is slight |
Boring
| Fairly difficult to very difficult | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Carving
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw |
Mortising
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Finishes satisfactorily |
Moulding
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Movement in Service
| Small |
Nailing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Holds satisfactorily | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail |
Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Ease of planing is moderate | ||||||||||||
| Planes to a satisfactory finish |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to machine |
Routing & Recessing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory routing results |
Screwing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Turning
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Staining
| Finish is generally good |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = very soft | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = very small | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = low | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 6911 | 10833 | psi |
| Density | 25 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 319 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 3324 | 5570 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1560 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1017 | 1199 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 25 | 21 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 2 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 485 | 761 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 400 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 144 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 233 | 391 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 109 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 71 | 84 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 400 | 336 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 2 | % |
References
Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.
Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department
Farmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSO
France – C.T.F.T.,1973,Investigations and Tests carried out on Tropical Timber by several,Research Laboratories,CTFT
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,1969,The Shrinkage of Some Ugandan Timbers,Uganda Forestry Department Timber Leaflet,No.47