TRADE NAME

AZOBE (BONGOSSI)

 

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Lophira alata Banks ex Gaertn. f. (= Lophira procera A. chev.)

 

FAMILY

Ochnaceae

 

 

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION

West Africa – Central Africa

Ivory Coast : AZOBE
Sierra Leone : HENDUI
Ghana : KAKU
Nigeria : EKKI, EBA
Cameroon : BONGOSSI
Gabon : AKOGA
Congo : BONKOLE
Equat. Guinea : AKOGA
W. Germany : BONKOLE, BONGOSSI
Great Britain : EKKI

Pr. = REGUL. Ex. = REGUL.

 

 

SAPWOOD

Clearly demarcated – pale pink – 5 cm.
Intermediate zone between sapwood and heartwood sometimes present.

 

HEARTWOOD

  • Colour : Dark red to purple-brown – white deposits in the pores
  • Grain : Slightly/occasionally interlocked
  • Texture : Coarse
  • Silver figure : –

 

 

TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

  • Green weight (kg/m3) = 1150 – 1250
  • Specific gravity at 12% M.C. (kg/m3) MV12 = (very heavy) 1070
  • Volumetric swelling for 1% MC variation V% = (large) 0.69
  • Total tangential swelling T% = 11.5
  • Total radial swelling R% = 7.8
  • Crushing strength (N/mm2) C12 = 96
  • Static bending strength (N/mm2) F12 = 227
  • Modulus of elasticity (N/mm2) E12 = 17400

 

 

END USE

  • Railways sleepers
  • Heavy duty flooring
  • Wagon or truck trays
  • Harbourworks
  • Bridges
  • Flooring for cattle shed

 

 

REMARKS

  • Natural durability : Very durable
    (intermediate zone between sapwood and heartwood is variably durable).
  • Lyctus susceptibility : No
  • Preservative treatment : Resistant
  • Other remarks:
    – Resistant to acids
    – Resistant to marine borers
    – Possible brittleheart.