
Okan (Cylicodiscus gabunensis)
Family: Leguminosae
Common names: Adada, Adadua, Adoum, Adum, African greenheart, Aja-igi, Anyan, Bokoka, Boueman, Bouemon, Denya, Djom, Doum, Edoum, Edum, Ekam, Emang, Eyee, Imbeli-deli, Inbeli-deli, Kendum, Lisan, Mbeli-deli, Mobonran, Muduma, Nkassa, Ode owese, Odekowese, Odenya, Okain, Okan, Olisan, Olosan, Osung, Owese, Usi, Uzhi
Distributed in: Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo (Africa)
Distribution overview: Common in the rain forests of Sierra Leone to the Cameroons and Gabon.
Common uses: Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Bridge construction, Carvings, Charcoal, Crossties, Decks, Dockwork, Factory flooring, Flooring, Flooring: commercial heavy traffic, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Fuelwood, Furniture, Heavy construction, Joinery, Ladders, Light construction, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Piling, Poles, Posts, Railroad ties, Sporting Goods, Turnery, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wharf construction
Product sources: Exporting countries are reported to include Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, and the Cameroons.
Environment profile: Secure within its range
Tree size: Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm
Colors: the heart isYellow, Yellow to golden-yellow to orangeand the sapwoodPink/Red , White to yellow.The grain isWavy, the textureMedium to coarseand the lusterPronounced
Natural durability: Susceptible to insect attack, Very durable
Odor: May have a slightly disagreeable smell when green
Seasoned wood has no discernible odor or taste
LightInduced Color Change: Darker
Kiln Schedules: UK=B US=T2C2/T2C1 Fr=2
Kiln Drying Rate: Very slow (>28 days for boards < 32 mm, to >84 days for boards >= 63 mm)
Drying Defects: Severe surface checking, Slight surface checking
Ease of Drying: Slowly
Tree Identification: Bole/stem form is straight
Comments: General finishing qualities are rated as good Strength properties are mid-way between those of European beech (Fagus ) and Greenheart (Ocotea )
Blunting Effect: High to severe
Boring: Fair results
Cutting Resistance: Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw
Gluing: Very good properties
Mortising: Fairly Easy to Very Easy
Moulding: Interlocked grain produces distinct ribbon figure
Movement in Service: Interlocked grain produces distinct ribbon figure
Nailing: Fairly Easy to Very Easy, Pre-boring recommended
Planing: Planes well, to a good finish
Resistance to Impregnation: Sapwood is resistant
Response to hand tools: Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work
Routing recessing: Routing yields good results
Sanding: Very Good to Excellent Results
Steam bending: Poor
Buckling and fiber rupturing are very common
Screwing: Difficult to screw, Possible if prebored; Turning: Good results
Polishing: Satisfactory; Staining: Poor;
- Numerical data Metric
- Numerical data English
- Strength properties
- References
 |
 |
 |
 |
Item |
Green |
Dry |
Metric |
Specific Gravity |
0,72 |
|
|
Density |
|
945 |
kg/m3 |
Bending Strength |
1012 |
1466 |
kg/cm2 |
Crushing Strength |
576 |
834 |
kg/cm2 |
Hardness |
|
1289 |
kg |
Impact Strength |
|
|
cm |
Shearing Strength |
|
196 |
kg/cm2 |
Stiffness |
147 |
177 |
1000 kg/cm2 |
Tangential Shrinkage |
8 |
|
% |
Radial Shrinkage |
5 |
|
% |
Weight |
961 |
913 |
kg/m3 |
Maximum Load |
0,63 |
0,84 |
cm-kg/cm3 |
Toughness |
|
|
cm-kg |
Static Bending |
|
|
kg/cm2 |
|
 |  |  |  | Item | Green | Dry | English | Bending Strength | 14400 | 20861 | psi | Density | | 59 | lbs/ft3 | Hardness | | 2843 | lbs | Maximum Crushing Strength | 8203 | 11868 | psi | Shearing Strength | | 2798 | psi | Stiffness | 2093 | 2518 | 1000 psi | Work to Maximum Load | 9 | 12 | inch-lbs/in3 | Specific Gravity | 0.72 | | | Weight | 60 | 57 | lbs/ft3 | Radial Shrinkage | 5 | | % | Tangential Shrinkage | 8 | | % | Volumetric Shrinkage | 12 | | % | |
Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = high 0 Bending strength (MOR) = high 0 Hardness (side grain) = very hard 0 Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = high 0 Max. crushing strength = high 0 Density (dry weight) = 61-67 lbs/cu. ft 0 Max. crushing strength = very high 0 Shearing strength (paralell to grain) = very high Shrinkage, Tangential = fairly large Density (dry weight) = 53-60 lbs/cu.ft. Shrinkage, Radial = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = fairly large Shrinkage, Tangential = large Shrinkage, Radial = large Shrinkage, Radial = fairly large Bending strength (MOR) = very high Shrinkage, Volumetric = moderate Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Tangential = moderate Shrinkage, Volumetric = large Shrinkage, Radial = small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = low Density (dry weight) = 67-75 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = low Shrinkage, Tangential = very small Shrinkage, Radial = very small Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = medium Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very high Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = medium Hardness (side grain) = medium Hardness (side grain) = hard Density (dry weight) = 75+ lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 46-52 lbs/cu. ft. Bending strength (MOR) = medium
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Wood Species from African Moist Forests,F.A.O. Forestry DepartmentFarmer, R.H.,1972,Handbook of Hardwoods,HMSOForests Products Research Laboratory, U.K.,1956,A Handbook of Hardwoods,Forest Products Research Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Department of,Science and Industrial Research, Building Research EstablishmentFortin, Y., Poliquin, J.,1976,Natural Durability and Preservation of 100 Tropical African Woods,International Development Research Centre, CanadaGhana - Timber Marketing Board,1969,Ghana Hardwoods,Timber Marketing BoardHedin, L.,1930,Etude sur la Foret et les Bois du Cameroun,Haut-Commissaire de la CamerounHMSO. 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.Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. 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LondonSallenave, P.,1955,Proprietes Phyiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux de l'Union Francaise,C.T.F.TSallenave, P.,1971,Proprietes Physiques et Mecaniques des Bois Tropicaux (Deuxieme,Supplement,C.T.F.T.Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1956,Survey of Africa Woods 2,Tropical Woods 16(106) pp65-97Spalt, H.A., Stern, W.L.,1956,Survey of African woods 1,Tropical Woods,115(105,pp 13-38Taylor, C.J.,1960,Synecology and Silviculture in Ghana,University College of Ghana Thomas Nelson and SonsTimber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd.Timber Development Association,1948,Some New Timbers and Their Uses No. 34,Timber Development Association Limited, London [TRADA]U.A.C.O. Timber Review,1971,Some Straight forward information about a very strong and very durable,wood,U.A.C.O. Timber Review,20,pp12-3Unwin, A.H.,1920,West African Forests and Forestry,T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. London
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