Abura

Environmental

Not listed in CITES. Believed available from well-managed sources. Check certification status with suppliers. H.stipulosa is listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as as VU – Vunerable: at risk of extinction.

Distribution

Occurs in West tropical Africa from Sierra Leone through Liberia and other coastal countries to the Cameroons and Gabon. It is probable that most of the wood exported is Hallea ciliata from the rain forests, since the botanically associated Hallea stipulosa grows outside this zone.

The tree

Abura attains a height of 30m to 40m with a diameter of 1.0m to 1.2m. The tree is free of buttresses, and the bole is straight and cylindrical.

The timber

Pale, reddish brown to light brown, sapwood wide but not differentiated from heartwood. Grain straight to interlocked, sometimes spiral grain present. Texture fairly fine and very even, sometimes figured like Canadian birch. Rather soft, weight varies from 480 to 640 kg/m³ dried (average 580 kg/m³).

Drying

Air and kiln dries well and with little degrade. Very stable when dried.

Strength

A timber with medium strength properties, resembling those of common elm.

Working qualities

Medium - Works well and cleanly with hand and machine tools; takes a good finish; stains, paints, and polishes well. Holds nails and screws, and glues well. One of the best West African timbers for small mouldings. Some logs may have ‘spongy heart’, and are then difficult to work.