Monopetalanthus heitzii

Adoung

Family: Leguminosae

Other Common Names: Adoung de heitz (Gabon).

Distribution: Reported only in northern parts of Gabon; prefers moist soils along rivers and swampy or occasionally inundated areas.

The Tree: Reaches a height of 140 ft; bole straight and cylindrical, clear to 60 ft; trunk diameters 4 to 6 ft over rather pronounced buttresses.

The Wood:

General Characteristics: Wood pink brown, darkens slightly on exposure; heartwood and sapwood not clearly demarcated. Texture fine and even; grain often interlocked.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.39; air-dry density 33 pcf.

Mechanical Properties: (2-cm standard)

Moisture content Bending strength Modulus of elasticity Maximum crushing strength

(%) (Psi) (1,000 psi) (Psi)

12% (47) 14,300 1,300 7,200

Amsler toughness 220 in.-lb at 12% moisture content (2-cm specimen).

Drying and Shrinkage: Logs should be converted soon after felling to avoid splitting. Seasons easily, but must be done slowly. No information on kiln schedules. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 4.0%; tangential 6.8%; volumetric 10.8%.

Working Properties: Works fairly well but tends to give a woolly finish, a reduced cutting edge angle is suggested to minimize tear due to interlocked grain; glues and nails well; easy to veneer.

Durability: Heartwood moderately durable; sapwood liable to stain and is vulnerable to powder-post beetle attack.

Preservation: Heartwood is resistant to impregnation; sapwood is permeable.

Uses: Furniture components, boxes and crates, light construction, plywood.

Additional Reading: (3), (47)

M 150 282-3Logs are delivered to a sawmill in southern Nigeria. African mahogany

(mostly Khaya ivorensis) is in high demand on overseas markets. Export of logs fro

this region, as well as from most other tropical areas, is being restricted.