
Izombe (Testulea gabonensis)
Family: Ochnaceae
Common names: Ake, Akewa, Akewe, Isombe, Izombe, Magnenti, Mogongou, Mugongu, N'Gwaki, N'komi, Ngron, Rone, Zombe
Distributed in: Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, South Africa (Africa)
Distribution overview: Found mainly in Gabon. It also grows in Cameroon and throughout the equatorial forests of West Africa. usually scattered in dense primary forests and transitional zones.
Common uses: Baskets, Bedroom suites, Boat building (general), Boxes and crates, Brush backs & handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Clogs, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Door, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Light construction, Living-room suites, Mathematical instruments, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Skis, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Toys, Turnery, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Windows
Product sources: The timber is available in lumber form from large importers in the United States, and is usually priced in the moderately high range.The ITTO reports that timber from this species is produced only occasionally and exported in negligible quantities.
Environment profile: Status unknown in some areas due to inadequate information
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureMedium
Natural durability: Susceptible to marine borer attack, Very durable
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Kiln Schedules: Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid
Kiln Drying Rate: Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Distortion, Moderate surface checking
Ease of Drying: Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good
Blunting Effect: Slight dulling effect on cutting tools
Boring: Good boring qualities
Carving: Good results
Cutting Resistance: Low resistance to sawing
Gluing: Glues well
Mortising: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moulding: Responds well to ordinary machine tools in moulding operations
Movement in Service: Responds well to ordinary machine tools in moulding operations
Nailing: Holds nails well, Possible if prebored
Planing: Planes well, to a good finish
Resistance to Impregnation: Resistant to preservative treatment
Resistance to Splitting: Satisfactory
Response to hand tools: Responds well to hand tools
Routing recessing: Routs well
Sanding: Yields relatively smooth surfaces
Veneering qualities: Moderately easy to veneer, Suitable for slicing
Steam bending: Moderate
Screwing: Possible if prebored, Screwing yields good results; Turning: Yields clean surfaces
Painting: Satisfactory; Polishing: Good; Staining: Good staining qualities
; Varnishing: Satisfactory;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
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Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,59 |
0,76 |
|
Density |
|
737 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
832 |
1173 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
389 |
600 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
|
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
143 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
101 |
119 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
6 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
3 |
|
% |
Weight |
769 |
721 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 11843 | 16696 | psi | Density | | 46 | lbs/ft3 | Maximum Crushing Strength | 5543 | 8535 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 2043 | psi | Stiffness | 1441 | 1704 | 1000 psi | Specific Gravity | 0.59 | 0.76 | | Weight | 48 | 45 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 3 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 6 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 10 | | % | |
Bending strength (MOR) = medium Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Max. crushing strength = medium Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Density (dry weight) = 38-45 lbs/cu. ft. Very heavy Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu. ft Dense Compression strength (parallel to grain) = high Bending strength (MOR) = very high
Banks, C.H., Schoeman, J.P., Otto, K.P.,1977,The Mechanical Properties of Timbers with particular reference to South,Africa,South African Forestry Research Institute Bulletin,(Ed.,Schoeman, J.P. 1973 & Otto K.P. 1976,No.48Bois et Forets des Tropiques,1990,Izombe (Testulea gabonensis,Bois et Forets des Tropiques No.225 (3) 65Bolza, E., Keating, W.G.,1972,African Timbers - the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 700 Species,C.S.I.R.O. Div. of Building ResearchChudnoff, M.,1984,Tropical Timbers of the World,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products,Laboratory, Madison.Erfurth, T., Rusche, H.,1976,The Marketing of Tropical Wood A. Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry DepartmentFortin, Y., Poliquin, J.,1976,Natural Durability and Preservation of 100 Tropical African Woods,International Development Research Centre, CanadaFrance - C.T.F.T.,1977,Promotion of African Timbers - New Species,CTFT,35 LeafletsHMSO.1981.Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition.Revised by R. H. Farmer.Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.ITTO.1986.Tropical Timber Atlas, Volume 1 - Africa.International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, 45bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, Nogent-sur-Marne Cedex, France.ITTO. New Marketable Species Technical Notes. Prepared by Centre Technique Forestier Tropical (CTFT, Division of CIRAD, 45 bis, Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent-sur-marne Cedex, FranceKline, M. 1986. Testulea gabonensis - Izombe. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co, Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 344.Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc., Fresno, California.Sallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.TTakahashi, A.,1978,Compilation of Data on the Mechanical Properties of Foreign Woods (Part,III) Africa,Shimane University, Japan, Research Report on Foreign Wood No. 7WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Plants Programme, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.
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