Scientific Name
Tetraberlinia tubmaniana
Trade Name
Ekop
Family Name
Caesalpiniaceae
Common Names
African pine, Blo-tu, Ekaba, Eko-andoung, Ekop, Ekop-ribi, Gola, Hoh, Liberian pine, Sikon, Sikon ekop, Tetraberlinia
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Liberia
Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Construction, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture, General carpentry, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Particleboard, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Toys, Turnery, Veneer
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure | ||||||||||||
| Status unknown due to inadequate information | ||||||||||||
| Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center |
Distribution Overview
The species occurs in large concentrations in the evergreen rain forests along the coastal region of Liberia.
Heartwood Color
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Black | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Green/grey | ||||||||||||
| Reddish brown | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| Brown |
Sapwood Color
| White | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Green/Grey | ||||||||||||
| Well defined | ||||||||||||
| Pinkish | ||||||||||||
| Paler than heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Different than heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Grey | ||||||||||||
| Clearly differentiated from the heartwood |
Sapwood is wide, about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm)
Grain
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Stripe (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Growth rings (figure) |
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Striped figure | ||||||||||||
| Distinct figure | ||||||||||||
| Clear growth rings (figure) |
Produces an attractive figure.
Texture
| Coarse | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Medium coarse to coarse | ||||||||||||
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Coarse |
The wood has an oily feel.
Luster
| Slightly lustrous | ||||||||||||
| Lustrous | ||||||||||||
| Fairly lustrous |
Natural Durability
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Moderately durable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood has moderate resistance to attack by decay fungi |
Weathering
| Excellent |
Odor
| Has a taste | ||||||||||||
| No specific smell or taste |
Light-Induced Color Change
| Darker |
Toxicity
| Some toxic effects |
Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed | ||||||||||||
| Drying (speed) is fast |
Drying Defects
| Collapse | ||||||||||||
| Internal Honeycombing Possible | ||||||||||||
| Uneven Moisture Content | ||||||||||||
| Discoloration | ||||||||||||
| Severe surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Severe end splitting |
Uncontrolled drying conditions may cause timber to develop severe end and surface checks
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Variable | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Slowly | ||||||||||||
| Reconditioning Treatement | ||||||||||||
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Dries very slowly |
Timber is prone to degrade
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries at a moderate speed | ||||||||||||
| Naturally dries slowly | ||||||||||||
| Naturally dries quickly |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is straight | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is cylindrical | ||||||||||||
| Bole/stem form is not buttressed |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 50-60 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 40-50 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 60-70 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is greater than 70 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 250-300 cm | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 10-15 mm | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 15-20 mm | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 300-350 cm |
Product Sources
Ekop is quite abundant within its range.
Certified Source
| Certified Source |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect
| Little | ||||||||||||
| Blunting effect on machining is slight |
Boring
| Very good to excellent results | ||||||||||||
| Responds well to most machining operations including boring and mortising |
Cutters should be kept sharp when working quartersawn material
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw | ||||||||||||
| Fairly easy to saw |
The timber is reported to cut without difficulty in sawing and other maching operations
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to glue | ||||||||||||
| Good gluing properties |
Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to mortise |
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to mould |
Moulding qualities are superior to those of American Black walnut, but is slightly inferior to those of Honduras mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla ).
Movement in Service
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Stability – Medium Movement | ||||||||||||
| Medium |
Nailing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to nail |
Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Ease of planing is moderate | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Quartersawn material may tear in planing and requires sharp cutting tools, but the timber is generally easy to work. Planing properties are similar to those of Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera ).
Resistance to Impregnation
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is permeable | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is moderately resistant |
Resistance to Splitting
| Satisfactory |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Responds Readily | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work | ||||||||||||
| Easy to machine | ||||||||||||
| Moderate working qualities |
Screwing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Good results | ||||||||||||
| Excellent | ||||||||||||
| Easy to turn |
Ekop is described as an excellent wood for turnery work, although turning qualities are inferior to those of American Black walnut (Juglans nigra ).
Veneering Qualities
| Difficult to veneer | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for peeling | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for slicing | ||||||||||||
| Veneers easily | ||||||||||||
| Veneers moderately easy | ||||||||||||
| Easy to cut | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for veneers | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for slicing | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for peeling |
Ekop is reported to slice very well into veneers for decorative applications.
Steam Bending
| Poor to Very Poor Results |
Painting
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Reacts with Iron to discolour wood |
Strength Properties
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = high | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = large | ||||||||||||
| Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Work to Maximum Load = very low | ||||||||||||
| Very heavy | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Dense | ||||||||||||
| Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = very high | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = low | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 9417 | 16548 | psi |
| Density | 44 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6899 | 10119 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 2205 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1916 | 2276 | 1000 psi |
| Work to Maximum Load | 5 | 7 | inch-lbs/in3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.59 | ||
| Weight | 43 | 32 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 662 | 1163 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 705 | kg/m3 | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 485 | 711 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 155 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 134 | 160 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Work to Maximum Load | 0.35 | 0.49 | cm-kg/cm3 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.59 | ||
| Weight | 689 | 512 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 5 | % |
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
Brown, W.H.,1969,Properties and uses of Tropical hardwoods in the United Kingdom. Part 1,Nonstructural properties and uses.,Conference on Tropical hardwoods SC-5/TN-5, Syracuse University
Chudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.
Constantine, Jr. A.J. 1975. Know your Woods – A Complete Guide to Trees, Woods, and Veneers. Revised Edition, Revised by Harry J. Hobbs. Charles Scribner and Sons, New York.
Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry Department
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
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
U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72
WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.