Lovoa trichilioides Harms
(= Lovoa klaineana Pierre)

West Africa - Central Africa

Sierra Leone : WNAIMEI
Ivory Coast : DIBETOU
Ghana : DUBINI-BIRI, MPENGWA
Nigeria : APOPO, SIDA, ANAMENILA
Cameroon : BIBOLO
Gabon : EYAN
Zaire : LIFAKI-MUINDU, BOMBULU
Equat. Guinea : NIVERO, EMBERO
Great Britain : AFRICAN WALNUT, TIGERWOOD
U.S.A : TIGERWOOD, CONGOWOOD
France : NOYER D'AFRIQUE, NOYER DU GABON

Pr. = REGUL. Ex. = FREQ.

• Colour : Grey-brown to yellow-brown, sometimes with dark veins
• Grain : Slightly interlocked
• Texture : Fine to medium
• Silver figure : Fine
• Ribbon figure when quartered. Black deposits in pores

• Green weight (kg/m3) = 750 - 850
• Specific gravity at 12% M.C. (kg/m3) MV12 = (light) 530
• Volumetric swelling for 1% MC variation V% = 0.43
• Total tangential swelling T% = 6.1
• Total radial swelling R% = 3.8
• Crushing strength (N/mm2) C12 = 47
• Static bending strength (N/mm2) F12 = 100
• Modulus of elasticity (N/mm2) E12 = 8400

• Furniture and cabinet work
• Decorative sliced veneers
• Interior and exterior joinery
• Turnery
• Peeled veneers for plywood faces

• Natural durability : Moderate
• Lyctus susceptibility : No
• Preservative treatment : Resistant
• Other remarks :
  - In East Africa, Lovoa brownii Sprague and L. swynnertonii Bak. f. are both commercialized under the trade name DIBETOU (Uganda = MUKUSU,- Kenya = MUKONGORO, Great Britain = UGANDA WALNUT). Somewhat heavier and harder.
  - Possible confusions with real WALNUT because of vernacular nomenclature AFRICAN WALNUT.