Matumi

NAME: Matumi
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Breonadia Salicina
ALSO KNOWN AS: Mingerhout

Distribution:

Naturally found in riverine forests and along the banks of permanent rivers and streams. It is found in Southern Africa from Mali and Benin east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa.

The Tree:

Matumi is a fairly fast growing evergreen tree that grows to a height of 41m. The diameter of the trunk can reach 2.06m. The bark is grey brown in colour and although it breaks up into irregular ridges it does not peel off.

The Timber:

The outstanding asset of this tree is its timber. The wood is heavy, fairly hard, oily and pale to dark brown, also frequently blotched.

Uses:

Matumi tops are cut in solid pieces through the diameter of the trunk to be used as unique counter or table tops.

Density:

Not Available

Rosewood

NAME: Rosewood
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Guibourtia Coleosperma

Distribution:

Chiefly from the Cameroon, and Gabon, also from Zaire.

The Tree:

The african rose wood trees are fairly large, with clear boles 9-18m long and 1.1.5m in diameter.

The Timber:

The heartwood is a medium reddish-brown or purplish- brown with darker veining, similar to some types of rosewood with a fine texture. It is of the same order of density as Brazilian rosewood, between 0.8 and 0.96 in the seasoned condition. The grain may be straight or interlocked but some logs have very irregular grain which gives a highly decorative figure to rotary-cut veneer.

Uses:

African Rose Wood has been used mostly in the form of veneer for decorative purposes, and would seem to have further possibilities as an alternative to rosewood for high-class furniture and cabinetwork, and fancy turnery such as knife handles and brush backs.

Density:

Not Available

Jackalberry

NAME: Jackalberry
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Diospyros Mespiliformis
ALSO KNOWN AS: African Ebony

Distribution:

Jackalberry varies from a shrub to large tree, with a long, straight stem, often fluted at the base. The bark is dark grey to black and rough, peeling off in small sections.

The Timber:

Although part of the Ebony family, the heartwood is not black, but pinkish-brown, darkening on exposure to reddish-brown, with dark streaks in the wood. Small knots, bark pockets and other defects are often surrounded by black discolouration which is characteristic for this species. The sapwood is white to straw coloured and well demarcated.

Uses:

Although this timber can be used for most applications, we only stock live edge tops.

Density:

7240 (N)

Leadwood

NAME: Leadwood
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Combretum Imberbe
ALSO KNOWN AS: Hardekool

Distribution:

Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Northern Botswana and Northern Limpopo

The Tree:

Leadwod varies from a shrub to a large tree with some larger specimens estimated to be over 1000 years old. The bark is pale to dark grey, rough and blocky.

The Timber:

Not Available

Uses:

This very hard and heavy wood is suitable for carving,  turnery and inlay work. We only stock leadwood in live edge tops.

Density:

Not Available