Nesogordonia papaverifera
Specifications
Family
Malvaceae
Species
Nesogordonia papaverifera (A. Chev.) Capuron ex N. Hallé
Description
The sapwood is pink or brownish, clearly differentiated from the pinkish-brown heartwood, which turns purplish-red when exposed to air. The density varies from 0.65 to 0.85. Water pockets are common in the trunks, causing internal stress during drying, with the risk of cracking. Mechanical strength and durability are excellent.
Plant morphology
It is a medium-sized tree, up to 30 m tall, with a columnar and cylindrical trunk, sometimes ribbed at the base. The leaves are alternate, simple, with needle-like stipules, a pointed tip and a rounded base, covered with sparse stellate hairs. The flowers are pentamerous, borne in inflorescences at the leaf axils, and are creamy white in color. The fruit is an obconical capsule.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Western Tropical Africa: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Angola.
Habitat and ecology
It prefers areas where savannah replaces forest formations and where it tends to grow in dense clusters.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is particularly suitable for carpentry, load-bearing structures and construction in general, building, road and maritime, boats, floorboards for heavily trafficked areas, industrial and sports tools, gunstocks, handles, turned objects, and veneers for decorative veneers.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Fine
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
760
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
51
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
75
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
120
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
13020
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Moderatamente durabile
Insect resistance
Resistant
Miscellaneous
Given the conservation status of the species in nature, the use of this wood should be avoided.