Cylicodiscus gabunensis
Specifications
Family
Fabaceae
Species
Cylicodiscus gabunensis Harms
okan
african greenheart
Description
It has a light, dirty-pink sapwood, clearly differentiated from the heartwood, which varies from yellow-brown to greenish. After exposure to air, the hues darken, taking on golden highlights. The texture is coarse, and the grain is variable and mostly irregular. The density ranges from 0.80 to 1.10. The heartwood has high mechanical strength and durability.
Plant morphology
It is a large tree, up to 60 m tall, with an erect, columnar trunk, with a maximum diameter of 1.30 m, ribbed at the base. The bark is fibrous, grayish in color, exuding a yellowish resin. The leaves are alternate and bipinnate. The inflorescence is a long axillary spike, composed of numerous pentamerous yellowish-white flowers. The fruit is a large legume, up to 90 cm long.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Tropical West Africa: Sierra Leon, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Benin, Nigeria, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea.
Habitat and ecology
It grows primarily in semi-deciduous forests with well-drained, moist soils. It can also be found in evergreen or deciduous forests.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is particularly suitable for heavy construction, hydraulic and road works, paving.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Coarse
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
910
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
58
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
79
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
134
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
22260
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Very durable
Insect resistance
Resistant