TRADE NAME

LONGHI

 

SCIENTIFIC NAME

  • Gambeya africana Pierre
  • G. delevoyi Aubr.
  • G. beguei Aubr. & Pellegr.
  • Gambeya subnuda Pierre
  • Gambeya lacourtiana Aubr. & Pellegr. (= Chrysophyllum sp. p.)

 

FAMILY

Sapotaceae

 


 

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION

West Africa – Central Africa

Ivory Coast : AKATIO, ANINGUERI ROUGE, ANANDIO
Cameroon : ABAM
Gabon : MBEBAME
Congo : LONGHI
Zaire. : BOPAMBU
Note:
1. Sometimes a distinction is made between LONGHI BLANC (G. albida) and LONGHI ROUGE (G. africana, G. lacourtiana, G. subnuda and G. beguei)
2. Not to be confused with ANINGRE corresponding to Aningeria sp. p.
3. Gambeyobotrys gigantea should be considered as an ANINGRE

Pr. = OCC. Ex. = LOW (Promotion)

 


 

SAPWOOD

Not clearly demarcated, a little paler than heartwood

 

HEARTWOOD

  • Colour : Pinkish brown to yellow-brown
  • Grain : Straight to slightly/occasionally interlocked
  • Texture : Fine to medium
  • Silver figure : Fine (barely visible)

 


 

TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

  • Green weight (kg/m3) = 1000 – 11000
  • Specific gravity at 12% M.C. (kg/m3) MV12 = (heavy) 750
  • Volumetric swelling for 1% MC variation V% = (medium) 0.51
  • Total tangential swelling T% = 8.8
  • Total radial swelling R% = 5.3
  • Crushing strength (N/mm2) C12 = 66
  • Static bending strength (N/mm2) F12 = 158
  • Modulus of elasticity (N/mm2) E12 = 14000

 


 

END USE

  • Interior joinery
  • Furniture components
  • Domestic flooring
  • Interior fittings and stairs
  • Turnery
  • Decorative sliced veneers
  • Plywood

 


 

REMARKS

  • Natural durability : Perishable
  • Lyctus susceptibility : Yes
  • Preservative treatment : Resistant to moderate
  • Other remarks :
    – Possible confusions with ANINGRE (Aningeria spp.)
    – Sometimes commercialized in mixed lots of Gambeya species and Donella pruniformis, especially in Gabon