Scientific Name
Scyphocephalium mannii
Trade Name
Akuma
Family Name
Myristicaceae
Synonyms
Scyphocephalium ochocoa
Common Names
Akuma, Eteng oswe, Ilombe, Ossoka, Ossoko, Soghe, Sogho, Sorra, Tshidungadunga, Tshifula
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria
Common Uses
Boat building (general), Cabinetmaking, Flooring, Furniture, Joinery, Light construction, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Toys, Turnery
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Green/grey | ||||||||||||
| Reddish brown | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown | ||||||||||||
| Greenish to greyish |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Different than heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Well defined |
Grain
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Closed | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Wavy |
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Wavy |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Medium to coarse | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Fine to medium |
Luster
| Low | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous |
Natural Growth Defects
| Latex or other ducts |
Natural Durability
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Non durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable |
Kiln Schedules
| Drying (speed) is fast |
Ease of Drying
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries quickly |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is straight | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is fluted | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is buttressed |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 40-50 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Little | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe |
Cutting Resistance
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to glue |
Movement in Service
| Stable |
Nailing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail |
Planing
| Planes well, to a good finish | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is moderately resistant | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results |
Strength Properties
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = low | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = soft | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = very soft |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 8110 | 12699 | psi |
| Density | 35 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1125 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 3324 | 5570 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1282 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1188 | 1383 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 34 | 27 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 570 | 892 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 560 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 510 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 233 | 391 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 90 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 83 | 97 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 544 | 432 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % |
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
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
Franco, E.J. Sampaio,1965,Sur l’Aptitude de quelques Bois Africains a l’Emploi dans les Travaux,Maritimes et la Construction Navale. (The suitability of some African,timbers for use in maritime structures and ship building.,Min. Das Obras Publicas, Lab.Nac. de Engenharia Civil Lisbon,,Memoria.,No.243 pp19
Garratt, G.A.,1933,Systematic anatomy of the woods of the Myristicacaeae,Tropical Woods,5(35,pp6-48
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
Meniaud, J., Bretonnet, F.,1926,Les Bois Coloniaux d’Afrique dans l’Industrie,Publ. de l’Agence Gen. des Colonies
Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l’Union Francaise,C.T.F.T
Sallenave, P.,1964,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Premier Supplement,C.T.F.T. Publ.,no.23
Sallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T.
Steiger, A.,1973,Surveys of information on wood species 9,Holztechnologie,14(3, p184
Yvon, J.,1973,Le Sorro (Scyphocephaliun mannii,Bois et Forets des Tropiques,No.152,pp51-4