Other Common Names:
Zebrano, Zingana

Botanical Name:
Microberlinia brazzavillensis

Family:
Leguminosae

Mature Tree Height, Diameter:
150 ft , 4-5 ft

Weight @ 12% M/C:
37-55 lbs./ft.3

Working Properties:
Saws fairly well, a clean finish is sometimes difficult to obtain due to interlocked grain. Glues well.

Growing Regions:
West Africa, mainly in Gabon and Cameroon.

General Characteristics:
Heartwood pale yellow brown with narrow darker streaks, striping pattern varies considerably; sapwood white up to 4 in. wide, distinct. Texture medium to coarse; grain usually wavy or interlocked; lustrous; unpleasant odor disappears after drying.

Uses:
Decorative veneers, turnery, tool handles.

Acceptable Substitutes:

References:
"Tropical Timbers of the World", USDA Handbook #607, Sept. 1984, p. 247

Discussion:
Turnings, boxes, etc. can be very striking, but getting a good finish requires good technique. The smell of the wood during machining can be most unpleasant.