Sougue (Parinari excelsa)
Family: Chrysobalanaceae
Common names: Afam, Aiomoradan, Assain, Assila, Assita, Bobombi, Bonzole, Bula, Catesima, Dawe, Distschia, Ditschia, Djirro, Ebula, Ebura, Esagko, Eshagho, Gboh, Grahm-sougue, Grey plum, Grey skinned plum, Guinea plum, Gulih, Inyi, Koolako, Kotosima, Kotossouma, Kotue, Kpar, Kura, Kura-mako, Kurahi, Kuranako, Kwanedua, Mampata, Mampataz, Mampato, Mbula, Mbura, Merecurillo, Mose, Msabala, Mubara, Mubura, Muganda, Mula, Mulanga, Munazi, Mushimba, Namulambo, Nnamulambo, Ofam, Omushamba, Patobi, Pemba, Pembe, Piolo, Rough skinned plum, Shuge, Sougue, Sougue a grandes feuilles, Suge
Distributed in: Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Columbia, Equatorial Guinea, French Guiana, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Guyana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Venezuela (Africa, Latin America, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: This pan-tropical species occurs widely in tropical Africa and America. It usually grows in mixed stands at elevations of 3000 and 6000 feet (915 and 1830 m).
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: framing, Building construction, Building materials, Cabin construction, Charcoal, Construction, Decks, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plywood, Poles, Railroad ties, Shipbuilding, Sporting Goods, Sub-flooring, Vehicle parts
Environment profile: Very secure within its natural range
Tree size:
The tree reaches a height of 150 to 170 feet (45 to 61 m), with a trunk diameter of 36 to 60 inches (100 to 150 cm) above large buttresses that are up to 10 feet (3 m) high. It develops boles that are mostly of good form and cylindrical. They are usually clear of branches for 60 to 90 feet (18 to 27 m).
Colors: the heart isReddish brown, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite, White to yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureMedium coarse to coarseand the lusterSlightly lustrous
Natural durability: Very durable, Very little natural resistance
Odor: The odor disappears after the timber is seasoned
The sapwood has a scent of honey when freshly cut
Silica Content: Siliceous
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2
Drying Defects: Slight surface checking, Slight twist/warp
Ease of Drying: Tendency to split and distort
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect: High to severe
Boring: Fairly easy to very easy
Carving: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Cutting Resistance: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Gluing: Satisfactory gluing properties
Mortising: Finishes poorly
Moulding: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Movement in Service: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Nailing: Possible if prebored, Pre-Boring is necessary
Planing: Specially-Tipped cutters are required
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Resistance to Splitting: Poor
Response to hand tools: Responds Readily
Routing recessing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Veneering qualities: Easy to cut, No drying degrade. Dries flat without splitting
Steam bending: Moderate
The wood has moderately good steam bending characteristics.
Screwing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy, Pre-Boring is required before screwing ; Turning: Tends to dull cutting edges of ordinary tools rapidly and severely
Painting: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult
; Polishing: Very Good to Excellent; Staining: Fairly Easy to Very Easy; Varnishing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,64 |
0,73 |
|
Density |
|
817 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
826 |
1207 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
|
108 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
834 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
73 |
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
132 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
132 |
160 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
9 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
6 |
|
% |
Weight |
753 |
608 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,49 |
0,84 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
244 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
811 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 11749 | 17179 | psi | Crushing Strength | | 1548 | psi | Density | | 51 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 1840 | lbs | Impact Strength | | 29 | inches | Maximum Crushing Strength | 6909 | 10292 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1885 | psi | Static Bending | | 11544 | psi | Stiffness | 1885 | 2287 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 212 | inch-lbs | Work to Maximum Load | 7 | 12 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.64 | 0.73 | | Weight | 47 | 38 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 6 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 9 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 15 | | % | |
Max. crushing strength = high 0 Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. 0 Hardness (side grain) = medium 0 Shrinkage, Volumetric = large 0 Bending strength (MOR) = medium 0 Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium 0 Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high Shrinkage, Radial = large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Bending strength (MOR) = high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = very high Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = very low Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high Max. crushing strength = very high Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft
Strength properties are reported to vary with origin and conditions at growth site, but the wood is very hard. Weight is usually very high, and the wood tends to be very dense. It is suitable for charcoal and firewood. Fruit produced by the species is edible.
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