
Menarong (Trema orientalis)
Family: Ulmaceae
Common names: Agaunai, Anabiong, Anadong, Anagdong, Anardung, Banahl, Charcoal tree, Elodechoel, Gorklu, Guburuka, Gutel, Hinlalaong, Indalugung, Indian Charcoal tree, Kargol, Maladurong, Malasikong-durong, Mandaragon, Menanong, Menarong, Mengkirai, Mufefeti, Mugubvura, Peach cedar, Pigeonwood
Distributed in: Angola, Australia, Botswana, Cabinda, Cameroon, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, India, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe (Africa, Oceania and S.E. Asia)
Distribution overview: The genus Trema consists of about 20 species which occur abundantly in the tropics. The only member in the genus occuring in Africa, T. orientalis , is widely distributed and abundant from tropical Africa southwards through South Africa and eastwards to southern Asia. In Africa it grow on abandoned farmlands, forest clearings, and on the fringes of forests in savannah regions.
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Baskets, Bedroom suites, Boxes and crates, Cabinetmaking, Chairs, Charcoal, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Fishnet floats, Floats, Floor lamps, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Food containers, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Living-room suites, Matches, Musical instruments, Office furniture, Plywood, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Roofing, Rustic furniture, Sporting Goods, Stools, Tables , Tannin, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vats, Vehicle parts, Wardrobes
Product sources: Young leaves of the tree are eaten by the Zulus in South Africa, and the root and other parts of the tree are also used as an emetic.
Environment profile: Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm
Colors: the heart isWhite, Yellowand the sapwoodWhite to yellow, Yellow.The grain isWeak figure, the textureMedium coarse to coarseand the lusterLustrous
Natural durability: Susceptible to attack from termites (Isoptera), Susceptible to insect attack
Odor: No specific smell or taste
Kiln Schedules: Drying (speed) is fast
Drying Defects: Ring Shakes, Uneven Moisture Content
Ease of Drying: Moderately Difficult to Difficult
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: Species in the genus are more valuable in their role of soil conservation and reclamation than as a source for timber
Blunting Effect: Blunting effect on machining is moderate
The wood has some blunting effect on saw-teeth and cutting tools.
Boring: Fairly difficult to very difficult
Carving: Good results
Cutting Resistance: Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy
Gluing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Mortising: Generally mortises well
Moulding: Fairly easy to mould
Movement in Service: Fairly easy to mould
Nailing: Poor to Very Poor , Very Good to Excellent
Planing: Responds well to most ordinary tools in machining operations
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is permeable
Response to hand tools: Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Routing recessing: Good routing qualities
Sanding: Good sanding properties
Veneering qualities: Difficult to veneer
Turning: Good results
Painting: Satisfactory; Staining: Very Good to Excellent; Varnishing: Satisfactory
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- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,35 |
|
|
Density |
|
400 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
401 |
651 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
29 |
36 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
276 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
75 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
63 |
75 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
|
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
2 |
|
% |
Weight |
400 |
336 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
|
|
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
138 |
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
190 |
327 |
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 5713 | 9266 | psi | Crushing Strength | 419 | 518 | psi | Density | | 25 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 610 | lbs | Maximum Crushing Strength | 2403 | 4354 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 1076 | psi | Static Bending | 2704 | 4655 | psi | Stiffness | 902 | 1073 | 1000 psi | Toughness | | 120 | inch-lbs | Specific Gravity | 0.35 | | | Weight | 25 | 21 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 2 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 5 | | % | |
Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Bending strength (MOR) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = low Soft Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Hardness (side grain) = soft Dents or scratches easily Compression strength (parallel to grain) = low Bending strength (MOR) = medium
It is closer in strength to Mahogany than either Teak or White oak, which have higher bending strength
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.48Banks, C.H.,1970,The Durability of South African Wood and Wood Base Building Materials,South African Forestry Journal,No.75Bolza, E. and N.H. Kloot.1963.The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers.Division of Forest Products Technological Paper No. 25.Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Melbourne, Australia.Bolza, E., Kloot, N.H.,1963,The Mechanical Properties of 174 Australian Timbers,C.S.I.R.O. Division of Forest Products Technological Paper,No.25Cause, M.L.; Rudder, E.J. and Kynaston, W.T.,1989,Queensland Timbers Their Nomenclature, Density, and Lyctid Susceptability,Queensland Department of Forestry, Technical Pamplet No.2Desch, H. E. 1954. Manual of Malayan Timbers - Volume II. Malayan Forest Records, No. 15. Malaysia Publishing House Ltd., Singapore.Desch, H.E.,1954,Manual of Malayan Timbers (2 vols,Malayan Forest Records,no.15Goldsmith, B., Carter, D.T.,1981,The Indigenous Timbers of Zimbabwe,Forestry Commission, Zimbabwe Research Bulletin No.9Hung, C.M.,1956,Experiments on the Pulping of Trema orientalis,Taiwan Forest Research Institute Bulletin,No.46Keating, W.G., Bolza, E.,1982,Characteristics properties and uses of timbers. South East Asia, Northern,Australia and the Pacific,C.S.I.R.O. Div. Chemical Technology,Inkata Press,1Keay, R.W.J.1989. Trees of Nigeria.Revised Version of Nigerian Trees. Clarendon Press, Oxford.Lauricio, F. M., Bellosillo, S. B., The Mechanical and Related Properties of Philippine Woods, The Philippine Lumber Journal, 12(5):A-H.Palmer, E. and N. Pitman. 1972. Trees of Southern Africa, Volume 1 - Covering All Known Indidenous Species in the Republic of South Africa, South-West Africa, Botswana, Lesotho & Swaziland. A.A. Balkema, Publisher. Cape Town, South Africa.Reyes, L.J.,1938,Philippine Woods,Commonwealth of the Philippines Department of Agriculture and Commerce,Technical Bulletin,No.7Storrs, A.E.G.,1979,Know your Trees - Some of the Common Trees found in Zambia,Zambia Forestry Department, NdolaWang, S.F.,1963,Studies on the absorption and penetration of woods treated with various,treating methods of preservatives,Taiwan Forest Research Institute Bulletin,No.89WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing - Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center-Plants Programme, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.Whitmore, T.C.,1973,Tree Flora of Malaya A Manual for Foresters Volume 2,Forest Department Ministry of Primary Industries Malaysia
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