Scientific Name
Dacryodes edulis
Trade Name
Assa-mingong
Family Name
Burseraceae
Synonyms
Pachylobus edulis
Common Names
Assa-mingong, Belemena mai, Diganga, Dimena, Eyomediome, Igaganga, Ollem, Ossabel, Ossamvegne
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, Zambia
Common Uses
Boat building (general), Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Millwork, Plywood, Poles, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative
Heartwood Color
| Black | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| Greenish to greyish | ||||||||||||
| Brown |
Sapwood Color
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White |
Grain
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) |
| Wavy | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Distinct figure |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Very fine | ||||||||||||
| Even or uniform | ||||||||||||
| Uniform | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium | ||||||||||||
| Coarse |
Luster
| Low | ||||||||||||
| Medium |
Natural Durability
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to marine borer attack | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non durable | ||||||||||||
| Durable |
Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed |
Drying Defects
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Checking |
Ease of Drying
| Slowly | ||||||||||||
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| End-Coating | ||||||||||||
| Requires special attention | ||||||||||||
| Difficult |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries slowly |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 0-10 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 0-10 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 20-30 m |
Certified Source
| Certified Source |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| High to severe | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is severe |
Boring
| Fairly difficult to very difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fair to good results |
Carving
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw | ||||||||||||
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Moderate to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is difficult |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to glue |
Mortising
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Easy to mortise |
Moulding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Easy to mould |
Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Stability – Medium Movement |
Nailing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail |
Planing
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is very resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Moderate working qualities |
Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Sanding
| Good sanding finish |
Screwing
| Pre-boring recommended | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Steam Bending
| Unsuitable | ||||||||||||
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Varnishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Strength Properties
| Shrinkage, Tangenital =moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = soft | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 11230 | 17405 | psi |
| Density | 36 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 995 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6899 | 9945 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1221 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1358 | 1568 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 35 | 28 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | % | |
| Volumetric Shrinkage | 12 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 789 | 1223 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 576 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 451 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 485 | 699 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 85 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 95 | 110 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 560 | 448 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 4 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | % |
References
Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1947,Ozigo – Pachylobus bultneri,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.3,pp43-6
Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1957,Igaganga – Dacryodes edulia,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.52,pp17-20
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
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
France – C.T.F.T.,1960,Resultats des Observations et des essais effectues au CTFT sur Igaganga,C.T.F.T.,Information Technique, No.78
Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data
Lebacq, L., Dechamps, R.,1967,Contribution a un Inventaire de Forets du Nord-kasai,Musee Royal de L’Afrique Centrale Belgium Annals Series 8 No.5
Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23
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
White, F.,1962,Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia,O.U.P. London