Scientific Name
Gluta turtur
Trade Name
Rengas
Family Name
Anacardiaceae
Common Names
Rengas, Torotoro
Regions of Distribution
Africa
Countries of Distribution [VIEW MAP]
Madagascar
Common Uses
Balusters, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Building materials, Carvings, Casks, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Construction, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Drum sticks, Excelsior, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Moldings, Musical instruments , Office furniture, Organ pipes, Packing cases, Piano keys, Pianos , Precision instruments, Radio – stereo – TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Sounding boards, Turnery
Environmental Profile
| Abundant/Secure | ||||||||||||
| Status has not been officially assessed |
Heartwood Color
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||
| Orange | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Pink | ||||||||||||
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Dark brown |
The heartwood is a rich, vivid red to dark red color, with darker variegated streaks
Sapwood Color
| Red | ||||||||||||
| Yellow | ||||||||||||
| White | ||||||||||||
| White to yellow | ||||||||||||
| Grey | ||||||||||||
| Clearly differentiated from the heartwood |
Grain
| Figure | ||||||||||||
| Crossed | ||||||||||||
| Interlocked |
| Interlocked | ||||||||||||
| Crossed |
Texture
| Medium | ||||||||||||
| Fine | ||||||||||||
| Even or uniform | ||||||||||||
| Uniform | ||||||||||||
| Fine |
Luster
| Low |
Natural Durability
| Non-durable | ||||||||||||
| Perishable | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to powder post beetles | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to marine borers | ||||||||||||
| Non-resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood not resistant to insect attack | ||||||||||||
| Resistant to termites | ||||||||||||
| Susceptible to attack by marine borers |
The timber has very good resistance to the harmful effects of the weather, and is suitable for exterior applications
Odor
| No specific smell or taste |
Silica Content
| Non-siliceous |
Unlike other species in the genus, this species is non-siliceous
Toxicity
| Some toxic effects | ||||||||||||
| Sawdust can cause irritation in some individuals |
The sap in green material is poisonous, and the sawdust may also be an irritant.
Drying Defects
| Checking | ||||||||||||
| Splitting | ||||||||||||
| Distortion |
Ease of Drying
| Fairly Easy | ||||||||||||
| Rapidly | ||||||||||||
| Reconditioning Treatement | ||||||||||||
| Moderately Difficult to Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Little degrade | ||||||||||||
| Requires special attention | ||||||||||||
| Easy |
Drying is relatively easy, but green material should be handled with caution since the sap is poisonous. Degrade is minimal, and thoroughly seasoned wood is safe to handle
Kiln Drying Rate
| Rapid | ||||||||||||
| Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast | ||||||||||||
| Naturally dries quickly |
Tree Size
| Sapwood width is 5-10 cm | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 10-20 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 30-40 m | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood width is 0-5 cm | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 20-30 m | ||||||||||||
| Bole length is 0-10 m | ||||||||||||
| Tree height is 40-50 m | ||||||||||||
| Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm |
Blunting Effect
| Moderate | ||||||||||||
| Cutting edges are dulled slightly |
Boring
| Fair to good results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly easy to very easy |
Carving
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Cutting Resistance
| Easy to saw | ||||||||||||
| Low cutting resistance | ||||||||||||
| Easy to saw |
Gluing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Mortising
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Moulding
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Movement in Service
| Unstable with Poor Stability – Large Movement | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Stability – Medium Movement | ||||||||||||
| Excellent Stability – Small Movement | ||||||||||||
| Stable |
The material is dimensionally stable, and retains its shape well after seasoning
Nailing
| Pre-Boring Recommended | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Planing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult | ||||||||||||
| Yields smooth surfaces | ||||||||||||
| Responds satisfactorily to all woodworking operations | ||||||||||||
| Machines well with ordinary tools |
Resistance to Impregnation
| Permeable heartwood | ||||||||||||
| Permeable sapwood | ||||||||||||
| Sapwood is resistant | ||||||||||||
| Heartwood is very resistant |
Response to Hand Tools
| Easy to Work | ||||||||||||
| Responds Readily | ||||||||||||
| Satisfactory response to hand tools |
Routing & Recessing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Sanding
| Yields smooth surfaces | ||||||||||||
| Easy to sand |
Screwing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy |
Turning
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results |
Veneering Qualities
| Veneers easily | ||||||||||||
| Suitable for peeling | ||||||||||||
| Veneers moderately easy | ||||||||||||
| Difficult to veneer | ||||||||||||
| No drying degrade |
Steam Bending
| Poor to Very Poor Results | ||||||||||||
| Tends to Degrade | ||||||||||||
| Unsuitable | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult |
Painting
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Polishing
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results | ||||||||||||
| Surface Preparation | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Good results |
Staining
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Varnishing
| Fairly Easy to Very Easy | ||||||||||||
| Fair to Good Results | ||||||||||||
| Very Good to Excellent Results |
Numerical Data
| Item | Green | Dry | English |
| Radial Shrinkage | 3 | % | |
| Tangential Shrinkage | 5 | % | |
| Item | Green | Dry | Metric |
| 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