366 LEGUMINOS^ YIELDING WOOD FOR 



Acacia scleroxylon (Tree). — A thornless tree, measuring 12 to 15 

 metres in height by 50 cm. in diameter. According to notes by 

 Lanessan the hardness of its wood is responsible for its being called 

 Tendrc a cailloii, a name which it shares with several other species. 

 The sap-wood is yellow; the heart-wood is hard, reddish, and imperish- 

 able, and is used to make poles, stakes, piles, &c. It is very common 

 in the West Indies, where there is another acacia, of undetermined 

 species, the wood of which is so hard that it has been nicknamed Casse- 

 Itaches (Break-hatchet). Acacia scleroxylon has a density of 1*235; 

 breaking strain, 2*658. 



Acacia sp.- There are several undetermined species of acacia in 

 Senegal, called Souro^ir, M cutout, &c., which yield good wood for 

 joinery. The wood of some is hard, finely and closely grained, and 

 resembles box-wood. 



Acacia spirorbis (Tree). — The common name of this species in New 

 Caledonia is " False Giiaiacinn." The wood is hard enough to serve 

 as a substitute for that of the Gnaiacum, and is used for pulleys, 

 wooden rollers, screws, &c. The sap-wood is yellow in colour, and in 

 old trees is thin ; the heart-wood is dark brown, very dense, and very 

 close-grained. Density, 1*074'; elasticity, 12*51; cohesion, 14*75. 



Acacia speciosa (Tree). — In India this species is commonly known 

 as Blackwood, as its timber has many characters in common with 

 that of Albissia Lebbek. The wood is used for making oil-presses. 

 The heart-wood is brown or reddish-black in colour and fibrous in 

 texture. 



Acacia Sieberiana (Tree). — An erect tree common in Senegal and 

 the Soudan. The wood is finely grained and somewhat hard. It is 

 easy to work, but is attacked by grubs and ants. It is suitable for 

 light furniture, packing-cases, pestles, mortars, &c. According to 

 Constancia the weight of i cubic metre is 760 kilos. 



Acacia Suma (Tree). — A small tree with a dark brown wood, very 

 hard and heavy. 



Acacia sundra (Tree). — The Indians consider the wood of this tree 

 as being the most durable of all, and use it for the supports of their 

 dwellings. It is reddish-brown in colour and very hard. 



Acacia tenulfolia (Shrub). — Known in Guadeloupe as Bois 

 d'aniourettc. Suitable for cabinet-making and joinery. 



Acacia Verek (Tree). — This small tree is of erect growth, attains 

 a height of 4 metres, and is found in all dry soils. The wood is good 

 for pestles; a cubic metre weighs 650 kilos (Constancia). 



Acrocarpus fraxinifoiius (Tree).— One of the largest Indian trees, 

 sometimes reaching a height of 40 metres. The timber is hard, the 

 sap-wood is white in colour, and the heart-wood pale red. It is a good 

 wood for joinery and building purposes. 



