Opepe (Nauclea diderrichii)
Family: Rubiaceae
Common names: Abouko, Akondoc, Aloma, Aloua, Asibo, Awesu, Badi, Bedo, Bilinga, Bohia, Bonkangu, Bonkese, Bosema, Bosima, Brimstone, Bundui, Doe-yah, Dubawile, Dunkake, Echinchin, Edjin, Eke, Ekusiawa, Engolo, Eridinda, Etinda, Gluu, Groussou, Gulu, Gulu-maza, Gulumanzi, Ikaka, Issoula, Kantate, Kilingi, Kilu, Kusia, Kusia papa, Kusiaba, Kusiabe, Kusiabo, Kussia, Linzi, Mamoundi, Mokesse, Moukonia, Mtoma, N'gulu, N'gulu maza, N'gulu-maza, Nguebe, Obiache, Odosi, Opepe, Opepi, Owessu, Owoso, Sibo, Sukisia, Tebotue, Toumbo, Uburu, Urherekor, Wei-yidi
Distributed in: Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zaire (Africa)
Distribution overview: The natural range of the species extends from Sierra Leone to the Congo region and eastward to Uganda. The species usually grows in pure stands.
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: planking, Bridge construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Crossties, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Harbor work, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Posts, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Tables, Truck bodies, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer: decorative, Wharf construction
Product sources: The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced in rather low quantities. The timber is currently being promoted for export. Supplies are plentiful, and good sized material of excellent quality is readily available at fairly expensive prices.
Environment profile: Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center
Rare in Ghana and Uganda, Vulnerable in Cameroon
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isRed, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWell defined, White to yellow.The grain isStriped figure, the textureMedium coarse to coarseand the lusterMedium to high
Natural durability: Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles, Very durable
Odor: Wood has slightly bitter taste
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5
Kiln Drying Rate: Slow (18-28 days for boards < 32 mm, to 52-84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Slight twist/warp, Surface checks
Ease of Drying: Variable
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: Abnormal Growth DefectsGeneral finishing qualities are rated as good Hidden defects such as reddish granular stones or heart shakes may be present.
Blunting Effect: Moderate
Boring: Fairly easy with ordinary tools
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Moderate to fairly difficult to saw
Gluing: Satisfactory gluing properties
Mortising: Material mortises fairly easily
Moulding: Good moulding properties
Movement in Service: Good moulding properties
Nailing: Holds nails well, Possible if prebored
Planing: Special attention required
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Resistance to Splitting: Poor
Response to hand tools: Responds Readily
Routing recessing: Routing is difficult
Sanding: Good sanding finish
Veneering qualities: Suitable for slicing, There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits
Steam bending: Very poor
Screwing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy, Screwing yields good results; Turning: Very Good to Excellent Results
Painting: Satisfactory; Polishing: Satisfactory; Staining: Very Good to Excellent; Varnishing: Varnishes fairly well ;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,54 |
0,65 |
|
Density |
|
753 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
886 |
1242 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
488 |
694 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
782 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
78 |
73 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
148 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
125 |
143 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
7 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
4 |
|
% |
Weight |
753 |
737 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,35 |
0,63 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
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kg/cm2 |
|
| | | | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 12606 | 17666 | psi | Density | | 47 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1724 | lbs | Impact Strength | 31 | 29 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 6954 | 9873 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 2118 | psi | Stiffness | 1783 | 2034 | 1000 psi | Work to Maximum Load | 5 | 9 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.54 | 0.65 | | Weight | 47 | 46 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 4 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 7 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 12 | | % | |
Max. crushing strength = high 0 Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Hardness (side grain) = medium 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium 0 Bending strength (MOR) = high 0 Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium 0 Bending strength (MOR) = medium 0 Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate 1 Shrinkage, Radial = moderate 1 Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Max. crushing strength = medium Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Hardness (side grain) = hard Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Hardness (side grain) = very hard Hardness (side grain) = soft Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Max. crushing strength = very high Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Bending strength (MOR) = very high Bending strength (MOR) = low The wood has good wearing properties, and its strength properties are reported to compare favorably with most imports. Density, strength and other properties of the species vary with site, but the wood is generally moderately hard and heavy. The species is 15 to 20 percent stronger than Teak (Tectona grandis)
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