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Idigbo Information

Other Names

Emery ; framiré. Black afara is a name used in Nigeria for the tree. As a timber name it is confusing and should not be used. Terminalia ivorensis, Family: Combretaceae

Distribution

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Occurs in Equatorial Guinea, Sierre Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, southern Nigeria, in parts of the rain forest and throughout the deciduous forest areas.

The Tree

A tall tree with a buttressed trunk attaining a height of over 30m and commonly 1.0m or more in diameter. The buttresees are broad and blunt, but the bole usually is clean and straight. 20m or more above the buttress.

The Timber

A plain, pale yellow to light brown coloured wood, sometimes relieved by a zonal figure originating in the growth rings, suggesting plain oak. There is little distinction between sapwood and heartwood, though the latter is somewhat darker in colour. The grain is straight to slightly irregular, and the texture is somewhat coarse and uneven. It is soft to medium hard, and weighs about 560 kg/m3 when dried. The weight is often variable, due to a prevalence of light-weight brittle-heart, particularly in large, over-mature logs. It may vary from 480 to 625 kg/m3 but for general assessment, the average dry weight is as given.

Drying

Idigbo dries readily and well, with little distortion and splitting, and shrinkage is small.

Strength

It has excellent strength properties, being as strong and stiff as English oak in bending, although considerably softer and less resistant to shock loads. It splits easily and has been used in West Africa for roof shingles. When converting large logs the heart should be boxed out as the brittle-heart has very much lower strength properties then the normal wood. In freshly converted stock, brittle-heart may often be recognised by a distinctive pinkish colour which may often develop after exposure to light for a few days. Natural compression failures, often referred to as ‘thunder shakes’ accompany brittle-heart.

Durability

Durable.

Uses

A useful utility timber for many purposes. It can readily be converted to rotary-cut veneer suitable for plywood, and because of its stability, ease of working, durability, and attractive appearance, it is useful for fine carpentry, joinery, and construction work. It is suitable for domestic flooring, window and door frames, etc. The timber contains a yellow colouring matter which may leach under moist conditions and is liable to stain fabrics, and it also contains tannin in sufficient quantity for the wood to become stained if in contact with iron when wet. It is slightly acidic and may tend to promote corrosion of ferrous metals. Suitable precautions should therefore be taken in those conditions of use where the wood might become moist to protect such metal as would be in contact with the wood, or by use of non-ferrous metal.