Antiaris spp.

Antiaris

Family: Moraceae

Other Common Names: Kyenkyen, Chenchen (Ghana), Mkuzu, Mlulu (Tanzania), Oro, Ogiovu (Nigeria), Kirundo, Mumaka (Uganda), Ako (Dahomey, Senegal).

Distribution: Distributed throughout the high forest zone of West, Central, and East Africa on widely varying sites.

The Tree: Reaches a height of 120 to 150 ft with a straight, cylindrical bole clear to 70 ft; trunk diameters 2 to 5 ft; sometimes buttressed.

The Wood:

General Characteristics: Wood is whitish or light yellow brown with no distinction between sapwood and heartwood. Texture medium to coarse; grain interlocked; lustrous; without characteristic odor or taste when dry, but has an unpleasant odor when green.

Weight: Basic specific gravity (ovendry weight/green volume) 0.38; air-dry density 27 pcf.

Mechanical Properties: (First set of data based on the 2-in. standard, second and third sets on the 2-cm standard.)

Moisture content Bending strength Modulus of elasticity Maximum crushing strength

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

Green (4) 4,770 810 2,930

12% 7,270 960 5,090

12% (44) 6,040 820 4,500

12% (40) 8,550 1,040 5,400

Janka side hardness 380 lb for green and 500 lb for dry material. Amsler toughness 50 in.-lb for dry material (2-cm specimen).

Drying and Shrinkage: Seasons rather rapidly but there is a pronounced tendency to warp, particularly twisting. Kiln schedule T2-D4 is suggested for 4/4 stock and T2-D3 for 6/4. Shrinkage green to ovendry: radial 4.2%; tangential 6.8%; volumetric 12.4%. Movement in service is rated as small.

Working Properties: Works easily with hand and machine tools but sharp cutters are needed; dresses smoothly, some tearing of interlocked grain; glues and nails satisfactorily.

Durability: Wood is perishable and liable to ambrosia beetle and powder-post beetle attack. Very susceptible to sap stain, requires rapid extraction and chemical treatments.

Preservation: Easy to treat using either open tank or pressure systems.

Uses: Veneer and plywood, furniture components, joinery, boxes and crates, light construction.

Additional Reading: (4), (9), (40), (44)