Common Name: Soft Wallaba
Scientific Name: Eperua falcata
Wood Description: Soft Wallaba, or Eperua falcata, is characterized by a heartwood that is reddish-brown, often with distinctive dark gum streaks that tend to spread over the surface. The sapwood is pale in color and sharply defined from the heartwood. The wood has a coarse texture and a grain that is typically straight. It is a dense tropical hardwood. The tree’s bole is usually 15-20 meters in length, with a diameter of approximately 60 cm, occasionally reaching up to 100 cm.
Physical Properties: Soft Wallaba is a dense wood. Its basic specific gravity (oven-dry weight/green volume) is 0.78. The air-dry density is 58 pcf (approximately 929 kg/m³), with a density of 860 kg/m³ (12% MC) also reported. It has a very high density, with an approximate weight of 65 lbs per cubic foot. The wood contains high gum exudates and oily resin, which contribute to its natural resistance. Shrinkage from green to oven-dry is radial 3.6-2.3% and tangential 6.9-6.5%, with volumetric shrinkage of 10.0-0.42%. The wood dries very slowly, with a marked tendency to check, split, and warp. Honeycomb may develop in thick material. Air-drying should precede kiln-drying. Its stability is rated as moderately stable. Soft Wallaba has a “Class A” fire rating, making it almost as fire resistant as metal or concrete.
Mechanical Properties: Soft Wallaba exhibits good strength and durability. Its bending strength (Modulus of Rupture, MOR) is 20,200 psi at 12% MC. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) is 2,130 (1000 psi) at 12% MC. Crushing strength is 11,210 psi at 12% MC. Static bending strength is 72 MPa, and modulus of elasticity is 18450 MPa. Crushing strength is 65-79 MPa. The wood is three times stronger than southern yellow pine.
Uses: Soft Wallaba has excellent qualities for transmission poles, flag staffs, and marine and bridge construction in non-teredo areas due to its strength and durability. It is well-suited for general heavy construction, utility and industrial floors, and chemical vat staves. Additionally, the timber can be used to make fence staves, posts, and shingles for roofing. Its natural resistance to moisture, insect infestation, and decay makes Wallaba posts and poles a perfect product for applications where hazardous chemicals are to be avoided.