Pentaclethra macrophylla (Ataa)

Scientific Name
Pentaclethra macrophylla

Trade Name
Ataa

Family Name
Leguminosae

Common Names
Akpaka, Althawah, An-fal, Apara, Ataa, Atawa, Atawah, Ateba, Atewa, Atowa, Atta bean, Bala, Bali, Bbiah, Bemba, Blay-bu, Combolo, Djong-tu, Ebal, Ebe, Eklo, Ekuama, Ekuana, Essiri, Fa, Fa-weli, Faa, Fae, Fai, Fakha, Fawei, Gbangban, Gbiah, Kekung, Kenuri, Kombolo, Kommott, Lubamba, M’vanza, Marrone, Mba, Mbala, Mouala, Moulla-panza, Mubala, Nkpa, Nsangabare, Ogba, Oil bean tree, Okpagha, Okuw, Opaga, Otiabor, Ovala, Owala, Sicupira Africana, Tsaklo, Tshibambabamba, Ugba, Ukana, Ukpaghan, Ukpakara, Ukuna, Wild locust

Regions of Distribution
Africa

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Zaire

Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Barge fenders, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Charcoal, Construction, Crossties, Decks, Docks, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Excelsior, Factory construction, Flooring, Fuelwood, Handles, Harbor work, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Naval architecture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Raft floats, Rafts, Railroad ties, Shafts/Handles, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Tool handles, Vats, Vehicle parts, Wharf construction

Environmental Profile

Its status in the wild in Angola, Benin, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Principe, Sao Tome, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Zaire is currently listed as unknown because of insufficient information

Distribution Overview
The species is widely distributed in tropical Africa. It is also often cultivated as a roadside tree.

Heartwood Color

Sapwood Color

The sapwood is pale gray-brown or white, and is not always clearly demarcated from the heartwood

Grain

Texture

Luster

Natural Growth Defects

Natural Durability

The timber is occasionally attacked by termites

Odor

Light-Induced Color Change

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Logs should be converted soon after felling to avoid seasoning losses.

Ease of Drying

Tree Identification

Tree Size
Trunk diameter is about 36 inches (100 cm).

Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory

Wood and bark are used for medicinal purposes. The wood has good fuel properties and is used for charcoal. The tree produces an edible fruit and the seeds yield up to 45% oil used for lubrication, candle and soap-making

Blunting Effect

Cutting Resistance

The wood saws fairly easily but slowly.

Movement in Service

Nailing

Planing

The timber is hard and heavy, but it is reported to plane reasonably well

Resistance to Impregnation

Response to Hand Tools

The timber is hard and heavy, and is rather difficult to work with hand tools.

Sanding

Screwing

Turning
The material is generally difficult to work with ordinary tools in most machining operations, including turning, moulding, mortising, and boring

Painting

Polishing

The timber is reported to finish and polish well with care

Varnishing

Strength Properties

The species has very high bending strength, and is much stronger than Teak in the air-dry condition (about 12 percent moisture content). Maximum crushing strength, or compression parallel to grain, is exceptionally high. It is hard and superior to Teak and probably Mahogany. The species has very high density.

Numerical Data

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

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

Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department

Fouarge, J., Gerard, G.,1964,Bois du Mayumbe,I.N.E.A.C. Belguim

Fouarge, J.,1970,Essais Physiques,Mecaniques et de Durabilite de Bois de la Republique,Democratique du Congo,I.N.E.A.C. Belgium Serie Technique,No.76

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

Hedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la Cameroun

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

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

Kennedy, J.D.,1936,Forest Flora of Southern Nigeria,Government Printer Lagos

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

Kunkel, G.,1965,The Trees of Liberia,German Forestry Mission to Liberia Report,No.3

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

Meniaud, J., Bretonnet, F.,1926,Les Bois Coloniaux d’Afrique dans l’Industrie,Publ. de l’Agence Gen. des Colonies

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

Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press

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

Savill, P.S., Fox, J.E.D.,1967,Trees of Sierra Leone

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

Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and Sons

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

Voorhoeve, A.G.,1965,Liberian High Forest Trees,Centre for Agric. Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen