Scientific Name
Adina microcephala
Trade Name
Adina
Family Name
Rubiaceae
Synonyms
Breonadia microcephala
Common Names
Adina, African teak, Matoemie, Matumi, Mdogowe, Mgwina, Mingerhout, Mugonha, Mugunya, Mulamandia, Muonha, Muonya, Muwana, Muwona, Mwenya, Redwood, Sohihy, Transvaal teak, Watermatoemie, Wild oleander, Yombe
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Bearings & bushings, Boat building (general), Bridge construction, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Lock gates, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Piling, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Toys, Turnery
Heartwood Color
| Black | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Purple | ||||||||||||
| Yellow to golden-yellow to orange | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Pale red to pink | ||||||||||||
| Pale brown | ||||||||||||
| Black |
Sapwood Color
| Pinkish | ||||||||||||
| Same as heartwood |
Grain
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Other (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Even | ||||||||||||
| Mottled (figure) | ||||||||||||
| Distinct (figure) |
| Other figure | ||||||||||||
| Straight | ||||||||||||
| Mottled figure | ||||||||||||
| Distinct and very fine figure |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Natural Durability
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) | ||||||||||||
| Very durable | ||||||||||||
| Durable | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to attack from marine borers |
Kiln Schedules
| Dry at a slow speed | ||||||||||||
| Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is slow | ||||||||||||
| UK=C US=T3C2/T3C1 Fr=3 |
Drying Defects
| Distortion | ||||||||||||
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Moderate surface checking | ||||||||||||
| Slight twist/warp | ||||||||||||
| Moderate end spitting |
Ease of Drying
| Slowly | ||||||||||||
| Moderate | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Kiln Drying Rate
| Naturally dries slowly | ||||||||||||
| Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast | ||||||||||||
| Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm) |
Tree Identification
| Bole/stem form is straight |
Tree Size
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 20-25 mm | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 15-20 mm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Bark width is 10-15 mm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 40-50 m |
Comments
General finishing qualities are rated as good
Boring
| Fairly easy to very easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw | ||||||||||||
| Moderate to saw | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy | ||||||||||||
| Cutting Resistance with green wood is difficult |
Gluing
| Gluing is often difficult |
Mortising
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Moulding
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Movement in Service
| Unstable with Poor Stability – Large Movement | ||||||||||||
| Stable |
Nailing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Holds nails well |
Planing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Ease of planing is moderate | ||||||||||||
| Planes well, to a good finish | ||||||||||||
| Easy to plane |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Resistant sapwood |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Moderate working qualities |
Screwing
| Screwing yields good results |
Turning
| Good results | ||||||||||||
| Easy to turn |
Polishing
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Strength Properties
| Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = small | ||||||||||||
| Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Radial = very small | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = low | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = very small | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate | ||||||||||||
| Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large | ||||||||||||
| Max. crushing strength = medium | ||||||||||||
| Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. | ||||||||||||
| Hardness (side grain) = medium | ||||||||||||
| Bending strength (MOR) = high |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Bending Strength | 10021 | 15630 | psi |
| Density | 55 | lbs/ft3 | |
| Hardness | 1658 | lbs | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 6899 | 9945 | psi |
| Shearing Strength | 1818 | psi | |
| Stiffness | 1665 | 1923 | 1000 psi |
| Weight | 54 | 44 | lbs/ft3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| Bending Strength | 704 | 1098 | kg/cm2 |
| Density | 881 | kg/m3 | |
| Hardness | 752 | kg | |
| Maximum Crushing Strength | 485 | 699 | kg/cm2 |
| Shearing Strength | 127 | kg/cm2 | |
| Stiffness | 117 | 135 | 1000 kg/cm2 |
| Weight | 865 | 705 | kg/m3 |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % |
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
Gueneau, P., Gueneau, D.,1969,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Malagaches,CTFT Madagascar
Palgrave, K.C.,1977,Trees of Southern Africa,Cape Town South Africa
Pardy, A.A.,1955,Notes on Indigenous Trees and Shrubs of S. Rhodesia – Adina microcephala,Ministry of Agriculture and Lands S. Rhodesia Bulletin No.1812
Scott, M.H.,1950,Notes on the more Important African Timbers Imported into the Union with,Special Ref. to Port. E.A. Species,Journal of the South African Forestry Association,No.19,pp18-62,[South,African Forestry Journal]
Scott, M.H.,1953,Utilisation Notes on South African Timbers,South African Forestry Department Bulletin No.36
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,1966,Timbers of Tanganyika – Adina microcephala (mgwina, mdogowe,Tanzanian Forestry Department Utilisation Section, Moshi – Timbers of,Tanganyika
Zambia Forest Department,1979,Timbers of Zambia Adina microcephala and Amblygonocarpus andongensis,Zambia Forest Department, Division of Forest Products Research, Timbers of,Zambia Technical Note no.5/79