COMMON NAMES:   Muninga, mutete, mukwa, mtumbati, kiatt, kajat

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:   .59

DENSITY:  41 lbs./cu.ft.

TANGENTIAL MOVEMENT:   1.5%

RADIAL MOVEMENT:   1%

VOLUMETRIC SHRINKAGE:

DURABILITY1:   Excellent

SOURCE:  Southern Africa

DESCRIPTION:   Muninga heartwood varies in color of light to deep brown shades, to shades of dark red with streaks which dissipate with exposure. Pale yellow to gray sapwood. Medium to coarse texture. Straight to interlocked grain. Not lustrous. Dry sawdust can irritate sinuses and lungs. Very good workability with machine and hand tools. Blunting of cutting edges is moderate. Cleanly sliced, and good for gluing. Excellent for carving and turnery. Used for flooring, building boats, fine joinery, furniture, and decorative veneers.

1 Durability refers to a wood's resistance to rotting in wet environments.