Guarea thompsonii (Guarea)

Scientific Name
Guarea thompsonii

Trade Name
Guarea

Family Name
Meliaceae

Common Names
Akpaku, Avellano, Black guarea, Bo-in-dah, Bolon, Bosse, Busi, Cedar mahogany, Cedron, Close grained mahogany, Dark bosse, Diambi, Dikunze, Guano blanco, Guarea, Guarea bosse, Hapopeya, Kaffi, Koguibe, Kwabohoro, Lombe, Mietandabo, Mutigbanaga, Mutigbanaye, Nigerian cedar, Nigerian pearwood, Nuguata, Obabonekwi, Obobo, Obobo nekwi, Obobo-nekwi, Obobonekwi, Oboborukin, Ofe, Scented mahogany, Sidu, Sweet cedar, Teninini, Timbi, Tshidiamakeka, Ugbokpo

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, 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, Mine timbers, Office furniture, Paneling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Structural plywood, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Utility plywood, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wardrobes

Environmental Profile

Endangered in Liberia and Vulnerable in Cameroon and Ivory Coast. Its environmental status in the wild is listed as unknown in Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zaire because of inadequate information

Distribution Overview
This species is found in Cameroon, Congo, C�te d’Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Zaire. It is a shade tolerant species found in moist and evergreen forest hillsides.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Growth Defects

Board surfaces are sometimes sticky due to gum exudation at high temperatures

Natural Durability

Odor

Light-Induced Color Change

Toxicity

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Requires care since the material is liable to split and check during kiln drying.

Ease of Drying

The timber air-seasons easily, however some care is needed during kiln-drying in order to minimize defects.

Kiln Drying Rate

Tree Identification

Tree Size

Boles are often straight, long and well-formed.

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

Narrow stock is apt to split in nailing.

Splitting

Blunting Effect

Boring

Carving

Cutting Resistance

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Movement in Service

The timber is dimensionally stable after seasoning.

Nailing

Narrow stock may split.

Planing

Material planes, turns, moulds, mortises, and bores to produce relatively smooth surfaces, except in quartersawn stock with interlocked grain which may cause the grain to pick-up

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

There may be some pick up in material with interlocked grain.

Routing & Recessing

Sanding

Screwing

Turning

Veneering Qualities

Steam Bending

Painting

Polishing

Staining

Varnishing

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
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

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]

Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1978,Bosse (Guarea cedrata, Guarea laurentii and Guarea thompsonii,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.177,pp35-49

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.

Cooper, G.P., Record, S.J.,1931,The Evergreen Forests of Liberia,Yale School Forestry Bulletin,31,pp1-153

Cox, H.A.,1939,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough

Desch, H.E.,1948,The Cedars,Wood 13(2) pp40-3

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

Forest Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1945,A Handbook of Empire Timbers,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research

Forests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research Establishment

Fouarge, J.,1950,Appropriation de Bois Congolais aux Besoins de la Metropole,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.38

Fouarge, J.,1953,Bois du Congo,I.N.E.A.C.

France – C.T.F.T./C.T.B.,1982,Guide pour le Choix des Essences Deroulables-pour la fabrication du,contreplaque,C.T.F.T./C.T.B. France

France – Comite Nacional des Bois Coloniaux,1931,Etude Physique et Mecanique des Bois Coloniaux,Assoc. Colonies-Sciences & Comite National des Bios Coloniaux, Paris,,France

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.

Hughes, J.F.,1971,The Principal Timber Trees of Cameroon,Unpublished data

I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting

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.,1964,Nigerian Trees Vol.2,Nigeria Federal Department of Forest Research, Ibadan

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

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

Kukachka, B.F.,1970,Properties of Imported Tropical Woods,Forest Research Paper FPL 125

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

Lavers, G.M.,1983,The Strength Properties of Timber (3rd ed. revised Moore G.L.,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Building Research,Establishment Report (formerly Bulletin No.50)

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

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

Pieters, A.,1977,Essences Forestieres du Zaire,R.U.G. Gent Belguim

Rendle, B.J.,1938,Commercial Mahoganies and Allied Timbers,Forest Products Research Laboratory, London Bulletin,No 18

Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London

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

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

Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1957,Survey of Africa Woods 3,Tropical Woods 16(107) pp92-128

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

Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.

Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition

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

Whitmore, T.C.,1973,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 2,Forest Department Ministry of Primary Industries Malaysia

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