TRADE NAME

AGBA (TOLA)

 

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Gosweilerodendron balsamiferum Harms

 

FAMILY

Caesalpiniaceae

 

 

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION

West Africa and Central Africa

Nigeria : AGBA
Cameroon : SINEDON
Gabon : EMOLO
Congo : TOLA, TOLA BLANC
Zaire : NTOLA
Angola : TOLA BRANCA
W. Germany : AGBA, TOLA BRANCA
Great-Britain : AGBA

Pr. = REGUL. Ex. = REGUL. (increasing)

 

 

SAPWOOD

Not clearly demarcated, whitish, 10cm, gummy

 

HEARTWOOD

  • Colour : Pinkish yellow-brown, darkening on exposure
  • Grain : Straight to slightly interlocked
  • Texture : Medium to coarse
  • Silver figure : Fine
  • Resin exudations

 

 

TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

  • Green weight (kg/m3) = 750 – 850
  • Specific gravity at 12% M.C. (kg/m3) MV12 = (light to medium) 510
  • Volumetric swelling for 1% MC variation V% = (small to medium) 0.32
  • Total tangential swelling T% = 5.7
  • Total radial swelling R% = 2.4
  • Crushing strength (N/mm2) C12 = 37
  • Static bending strength (N/mm2) F12 = 93
  • Modulus of elasticity (N/mm2) E12 = 8700

 

 

END USE

  • Plywood
  • Exterior joinery
  • Interior joinery – mouldings
  • Interior fittings
  • Furniture
  • Boat building

 

 

REMARKS

  • Natural durability : Moderate
  • Lyctus susceptibility : Yes (sapwood used as peeled veneer)
  • Preservative treatment : Moderate
  • Other remarks :
    – Persisting resinous odour
    – Often exported with sapwood removed
    – Frequent defect in logs = ringshakes
    – Another species lesser-known = G. joveri, more reddish and with coarser texture, is exported from Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and Gabon, as ODUMA.