Abstract

The current study examines the physical and mechanical properties of branch wood from Holarrhena floribunda and Nesogordonia papaverifera, two of Ghana's least researched deciduous species. At an equilibrium moisture content of 12±2%, H. floribunda and N. papaverifera specimens had average density values of 467.53 and 720.80 kgm^-3, respectively. The overall tangential and radial shrinkage was 3.8 and 3.2%, respectively, while the radial shrinkage was 2.8 and 1.8%. For H. floribunda and N. papaverifera, the modulus of rupture was 80.2 and 122.3 N/mm², respectively, whereas the static modulus of elasticity was 8213.8 and 12902.8 N/mm². Shear strength parallel to grain was around 11.9 and 16.5 N/mm², whereas compression strength parallel to grain was approximately 36.6 and 52.3 N/mm². H. floribunda and N. papaverifera have Janka hardness values of 6.2 and 10.3 N/mm² tangentially, and 4.3 and 8.9 N/mm² radially, respectively. The qualities of the branch wood of H. floribunda and N. papaverifera were equivalent to those of their stem wood and other known wood species, indicating that they might be used in a variety of wood-related applications.

Key words: Branchwood, Holarrhena floribunda, Nesogordonia papaverifera, Ghana.