Amphimas pterocarpoides
Specifications
Family
Fabaceae
Species
Amphimas pterocarpoides Harms
Description
The sapwood is yellowish-white, the heartwood golden-yellow-brown with thin whitish bands; this wood has a coarse texture, straight grain, and a density between 0.68 and 0.82. Cracking and warping are common during drying. It has good mechanical strength but poor durability.
Plant morphology
A large deciduous tree, up to 50 m tall. It has a straight, cylindrical trunk supported by broad buttresses; it can reach a maximum diameter of 1.8 m. The bark is rough, ranging from grayish-brown to dark brown; if the tree is injured, a reddish resin exudes. The crown is hemispherical, and the young branches are covered with thick reddish-brown hair. The leaves, arranged spirally at the tips of the branches, are odd-pinnate, composed of 11-21 opposite, ovate-oblong leaflets, acuminate at the tip, and sometimes with serrated edges. The inflorescence is a loose raceme borne at the base of the leaves, composed of a few pentamerous, bell-shaped, scented, whitish flowers. The fruit is a flattened legume with large, winged seeds.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Tropical West Africa: Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Gabon, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo.
Habitat and ecology
A species found in many environments, from humid evergreen forests to deciduous forests; it does not tolerate forest fires and prefers nutrient-rich substrates.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is used for interior carpentry, floorboards, furniture and decoration.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Coarse
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
820
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
64
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
108
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
128
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
16830
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Moderatamente durabile
Insect resistance
Not resistant