Wenge

Origin: Mozambique and Congo

Latin name.
Milletia laurentii De Wild., M. stuhlmanni Taub.

Natural vegetation area.
Mozambique and middle Congo Basin forests.

TRUNK CHARACTERISTICS.
The tree is middle height: 20-25 m; the basal buttresses are large, and above them the diameter can reach 1.20 m. The trunk is quite irregular, both in terms of growth habit and in terms of cross-section; inside, it features many large timber-boring insect galleries.

WOOD APPEARANCE AND CHARACTERISTICS.
The sapwood is whitish, whereas the heartwood is light coffee colour with darker stripes varying from reddish to olive or blackish. It features gummy secretions and very fine mineral particles inside the cells. In the fresh condition it emanates a pleasant smell.

Specific weight.
In the fresh condition 1,150 kg/m³ on average; after normal seasoning 780 kg/m³

Histological structure.
Coarse texture, irregular grain, often clearly cross-grain.

Shrinkage.
High.

Mechanical characteristics.
Axial compression strength 65 N/mm² on average; bending strength 150 N/mm²; the impact behaviour is variable.

Modulus of elasticity.
11500 N/mm²

Most frequent structural defects and alteration.
Trunk irregular shape; strong grain deviation; presence of many very fine mineral particles.

Durability.
From fair to good.

 

Texts taken from: “Manuale tecnico del legno”, FNALA CNA LEGNO LEGNO, by Prof. Ing. Guglielmo Giordano.

 

Species available for the following products: