Scientific Name
Terminalia aemula
Trade Name
Biress
Family Name
Combretaceae
Synonyms
Terminalia hildebrandtii, Terminalia kilimandscharica
Common Names
Biress, Leh-heli, Mbambaro, Mbombaro, Mkurungu, Muhuku, Muumba, Mwangati, Terminalia
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Kenya, Tanzania
Common Uses
Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Mine timbers, Piling, Plywood, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Toys, Veneer
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Greenish to greyish |
Sapwood Color
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Well defined |
Grain
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Stripe (figure) |
| Striped figure | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked |
Texture
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Luster
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles |
Light-Induced Color Change
| Darker |
Kiln Schedules
| UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 | ||||||||||||
| Drying (speed) is fast | ||||||||||||
| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rather slow | ||||||||||||
| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid |
Drying Defects
| Moderate surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Slight twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| No end splitting |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) | ||||||||||||
| Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
General finishing qualities are rated as poor
Cutting Resistance
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is moderate |
Mortising
| Difficult to mortise |
Moulding
| Difficult to mould |
Movement in Service
| Medium |
Nailing
| Possible if prebored | ||||||||||||
| Holds nails well |
Planing
| Difficult to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Heartwood is resistant | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is moderately resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to machine | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to machine |
Turning
| Difficult to turn |
Strength Properties
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Work to Maximum Load = low | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = very small | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 10732 | 16695 | psi |
| Density | 47 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1658 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6899 | 9945 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 2419 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1512 | 1745 | 1000 psi |
| Work to Maximum Load | 9 | 12 | inch-lbs/in3 |
| Weight | 46 | 37 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 754 | 1173 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 753 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 752 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 485 | 699 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 170 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 106 | 122 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Work to Maximum Load | 0.63 | 0.84 | cm-kg/cm3 |
| Weight | 737 | 592 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % |
References
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
Dale, I.R., Greenway, P.J.,1961,Kenya Trees and Shrubs,Buchanans Kenya Estates Ltd. Nairobi Hatchards London
Murira, K.,1984,Natural Durability Tests of Tanzanian Timbers 1955 – 1982,Tanzania Forestry Research Institute, Timber Utilisation Research Centre,,Moshi.
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
Tanzania Forest Division,1966,Kiln Drying Schedules for Tanzania Timbers Technical Note no.38,Tanzania Forest Div. Util. Sec. Moshi
Tanzania Forestry Department,1963,Timbers of Tanganyika – Syzygium guineense,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi – Timbers of,Tanganyika
Tanzania Forestry Department,1966,Timbers of Tanganyika – Terminalia aemula,Tanzania Forestry Department, Utilisation Section, Moshi – Timbers of,Tanganyika