Juniperus procera

African Pencil Cedar

Family: Cupressaceae

Other Common Names: Ol tarakwa, Mtarakwa, Mwangati (Tanzania).

Distribution: East Africa; mainly in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda; found in the upland evergreen forests at elevations of 6,000 to 9,000 ft.

The Tree: Reaches a height of 100 to 120 ft; bole is tapered with a fluted base; trunk diameters mostly 4 to 5 ft but may reach 10 ft.

The Wood:

General Characteristics: Heartwood pale red, yellow brown, or purple red, becoming warm red brown on exposure; sapwood narrow, whitish, clearly differentiated. Texture fine; grain straight; quartersawn boards have an attractive figure; noticeable cedar scent. Spiral grain, ingrown bark, and compression wood are common.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) about 0.48; air-dry density 36 pcf.

Mechanical Properties: (2-in. standard)

Moisture content Bending strength Modulus of elasticity Maximum crushing strength

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

Green (61) 11,100 1,280 5,800

Janka side hardness 765 lb for green material.

Drying and shrinkage: Dries moderately rapidly but in larger sizes tends to surface and end check. Kiln schedule T8-B3 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T5-B1 for 8/4. Shrinkage green to 12% moisture content: radial 2.0%; tangential 3.0%.

Working Properties: Works easily with hand and machine tools; being fissile it tends to break and chip in drilling and mortising; glues well, takes an excellent polish; liable to split in nailing.

Durability: Heartwood is classified as durable and resistant to most forms of insect attack.

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

Uses: Slats for pencil manufacture, furniture, joinery, cabinetwork, tanks and vats shingles, millwork. Cedarwood oil is distilled from the sawdust.

Additional Reading: (3), (61), (67)