Guarea cedrata (Guarea)

Scientific Name
Guarea cedrata

Trade Name
Guarea

Family Name
Meliaceae

Common Names
African cedar, Anokue, Belii, Bonsannua, Bosae, Bosasa, Bosassa, Bossassa, Bosse, Bosse clair, Bosse’, Bossi, Cedar mahogany, Cedron, Diambi, Ditoke, Duruiti, Dzana, Ebangbembra, Ebangbemva, Edoucie’, Guano blanco, Guarea, Guarea bosse, Guissu, Kwabohoro, Kwabohuro, Kwadwema, Light bosse, Lofun, Lombe, Mbosse’, Ngbose, Nigerian cedar, Nigerian pearwood, Obobo, Obobo nofua, Obobo-nofwa, Obodo blanc, Onwamdua, Ossoung, Pahiapo, Penkwa, Scented guarea, Scented mahogany, Telemia, Tenumeadomei, Tshidiamakeka, White guarea

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zaire

Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Core Stock, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Millwork, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Paneling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Structural plywood, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes

Environmental Profile

Secure in Cameroon, Congo, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, but it is officially classified as Endangered in Liberia and Vulnerable in the Ivory Coast. Its status in the wild is currently listed as unknown due to lack of information in Ghana, Nigeria, and Zaire

Distribution Overview
The range of both species overlaps in Ivory Coast, Ghana, and southern Nigeria. G. cedrata extends into the Cameroons. G. Cedreta trees are most common in moist semi-deciduous forest and in the dryer undisturbed areas of moist evergreen forest.

Heartwood Color

The heartwood initially has a pale pinkish-brown mahogany color, but it darkens with age.

Sapwood Color

The sapwood is somewhat lighter and paler than the heartwood color, which is a pale pink brown when freshly cut, darkening on exposure.

Grain

Plain-Cut material is reported to often show a small zig-zag figure.

Texture

Luster

Natural Growth Defects

Gum spots which can easily be sanded off occasionally appear on boards and veneer. The gum can dull saws and cutters, especially when the wood is warm

Natural Durability

Timber is moderately resistant to termites, and only occasionally attacked by pinhole borers. Resistance to white rot is variable. The species has good weathering characteristics.

Odor

Silica Content

The wood is reported to contain medium levels of silica (0.11% of ovendry weight). Silica levels above 0.05% is generally considered to be enough to affect the properties of timber.

Light-Induced Color Change

Toxicity

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

The wood tends to dry fairly rapidly with a slight tendency to warp. Kiln drying requires care to avoid resin exudation. There is also a tendency towards splitting

Ease of Drying

Radial – 2.3%
Shrinkage Values (Green to 12% MC)
Tangential – 3.7%

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

It develops long and cylindrical boles, and is buttressed.

Product Sources
The ITTO reports that the species is an important and regular source of timber for export.

Certified Source

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good

General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory

Splitting

There is a slight tendency for this stock to split.

Blunting Effect

Boring

The material has fairly good boring properties

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

Properly seasoned timber is stable, and undergoes minimal dimensional changes in response to fluctuations in atmospheric conditions.

Nailing

Planing

Quartersawn material has slight tendency to pick up during planing.

Resistance to Abrasion

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Polishing

Gum exudation from warm material is reported to occasionally increase polishing difficulty.

Staining

Varnishing

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
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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]

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Into the Woods. 1993. Personal Communication.

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

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

Keay, R.W.J.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan

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