Grain, Texture and Figure 
Limba is rated as generally straight-grained, although wavy grain may 
occur, producing a desired figure (15.)* The texture varies from close 
to rather coarse hut even (6) . 
Mechanical Properties 
In large logs the heartwood may be brittle, and as a rule the dark colored 
wood tends to be more brittle than the light. 
Complete strength tests have not been carried out<2. but the timber rates as 
not very strong, not as strong as oak (£, 1J5., 19) • 0* 1 © plank from Nigeria 
was tested in England (1) with the results given in the accompanying table. 
A very small number of tests on a few boards were made at the U. S. Forest 
Products Laboratory in 19^8. Wood with specific gravities of 0.515 *° 
O.6U5 gave values corresponding roughly with those for black cherry, black 
tupelo, red maple, and American elm. 
Seasoning 
Kiln drying is reported to be easily accomplished with little tendency 
for the development of defects. A schedule about like that for ash 
can be used—. The wood shows stability when manufactured. Care is 
required if the wood is air seasoned to prevent decay and discoloration 
(15). Shrinkage is reported to be rather small (1^) but greater in the 
dark colored portions. 
Durability 
Limba is not resistant to decay, insects, or termites (19) and the heart- 
wood of large trees is frequently found to be unsound, or even hollow, when 
felled (lU) • The sapwood stains readily in a manner similar to the bluing 
of softwoods. Logs are attacked by pinhole borers in both sapwood and 
heartwood. Powder-post beetles may attack sapwood (15). Preservative 
treatments are reported to prevent damage by fungi and insects (6). 
Working Characteristics 
The timber has been found to work easily with hand and machine tools? 
it turns well. If the grain is uneven it may "pick up" in planing, but 
this is said to be overcome by using a low cutting angle ( 15) . Limba 
veneers without trouble. The wood finishes well when a filler is used. 
It glues readily and does not "bleed" (5) but care is required in nailing 
and screwing, for the wood has a tendency to split (15)» 
2Tests by the Forest Products Research Laboratories in England were made on 
a related species, Terminalia ivorensis (Idigbo), and are published in 
the periodical "Wood" (BritishJ~for July 1938 for purposes of comparison 
with other Gold Coast woods. 
§A. suggested schedule would be similar to No. 3 given in Technical Note 175» 
U. S. Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis. 
Report No. R1778 -3- 
