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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences - Vol. 12, No. 2

Publication Date: April 25, 2024

DOI:10.14738/dafs.122.16904.

Mensah, P., Owusu, F. W., Adzigodie, J. K., Boakye, F., & Minkah, E. (2024). Anatomical and Physico-Mechanical Properties of Ficus

exasperata Vahl Wood. Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 12(2). 27-46.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Anatomical and Physico-Mechanical Properties of Ficus

exasperata Vahl Wood

Prosper Mensah

ORCID:0000-0002-5981-4493

Wood Industry and Utilisation Division,

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),

Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Kumasi, Ghana

Francis Wilson Owusu

ORCID: 0000-0001-8419-1032

Wood Industry and Utilisation Division,

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),

Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Kumasi, Ghana

Joshua Kwasi Adzigodie

ORCID:0000-0003-2377-3033

Wood Industry and Utilisation Division,

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),

Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Kumasi, Ghana

Felix Boakye

ORCID: 0009-0005-7583-3028

Wood Industry and Utilisation Division,

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),

Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Kumasi, Ghana

Emmanuel Minkah

ORCID: 0009-0000-4035-475X

Wood Industry and Utilisation Division,

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),

Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Kumasi, Ghana

ABSTRACT

Most of the commercial timber in Ghana are getting extinct thereby posing a big

challenge to the timber industry. There is therefore the need to determine the

properties of some of the lesser-used and lesser-known timber species available in

the Ghanaian forest for utilization. This study was carried out at Council for

Scientific and Industrial Research-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana campus to

evaluate the suitability of some anatomical, physical, and mechanical properties of

timber obtained from Ficus exasperata trees and its utilization potential in the

timber industry. Two trees were extracted and the logs from them were processed

into beams. Boards were prepared from these beams and test specimens were

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Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences (DAFS) Vol 12, Issue 2, April- 2024

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

prepared for the determination of physical (density), anatomical (fibre

measurement, number of vessels, vessel width, vessel diameter) and mechanical

(bending, compression, shear, hardness) properties based on internationally

acceptable standards. At an average moisture content of 12.16%, the result

obtained indicate that the mean values for the properties tested increased from the

butt to the top sections of the two trees. However, there was no significant variation

in the mean values obtained for the static bending, compression parallel to the grain

and shear properties of the middle and top sections of both trees, whereas these

properties varied significantly at the butt section of both trees. Generally, the

properties tested increased with age from the top to the butt. Thirty-one-year-old

F. exasperata recorded an average density of 414.34 kg/m3 whereas the twenty- seven-year-old recorded 385.35 kg/m3. Among the age gradations, the thirty-one- year-old F. exasperata registered maximum values for the evaluated parameters,

namely; anatomical, density, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture,

compression parallel to the grain, shear and hardness. The results of the study

suggest that F. exasperata timber is a low-density wood and hence, can be used as

substitute of Alstonia boonei and Hannoa klaineana which are also classified in the

D30 strength class. Thus, suitable for the production of particleboards, mouldings,

core veneer for plywood, boxes, crates, packing cases, pencil, food containers, light

furniture industry and other fitments. Hence, it should be promoted in the timber

industry.

Keywords: anatomy, compressive strength, density Ficus exasperata, hardness, shear

strength, static bending.

INTRODUCTION

Heavy exploitation of few commercially valuable timber species such as Pericopsis elata

(Afromosia), Cynometra ananta (Ananta), Turreanthus africanus (Avodire), (Guibourtia ehie)

Hyedua, Milicia excelsa (Odum), due in major part to the insatiable demand from consumer

markets, has meant that many species are now threatened with extinction. This has led to many

of the tropical forests being plundered for these highly prized timber species. Even in the forests

where there are good levels of forest management, there is a risk of a shift in species

composition in natural forest stands. This over-exploitation can also dissuade many forest

managers from obtaining Forest Stewardship Council Certification (FSCC) for their concessions,

as many of these high value timber species are rarely available in sufficient quantity to cover

all of the associated cost of certification.

Currently, Ghana has a little over 90 species of timber that are regularly exploited and traded

(Hansen et al., (2012). In order to make responsible forest management sustainable over the

long term, markets must be developed for lesser-known timber species (LKS) and lesser-used

timber species (LUS). Many forest concessions in the tropics can contain over 100 different tree

species, yet only a handful are heavily harvested commercially, due to their known current

market demand. Many of these species’ characteristics are simply not even known, and could

have similar and even better performance for some specific end-uses just as well as many of the

traditionally harvested species. They can also have a more distinctive and unique appearance

compared to more popular ones. The utilization of wider portfolio of species including LKS and

LUS would help relieve pressure on the traditionally harvested and heavily exploited species.

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Mensah, P., Owusu, F. W., Adzigodie, J. K., Boakye, F., & Minkah, E. (2024). Anatomical and Physico-Mechanical Properties of Ficus exasperata Vahl

Wood. Discoveries in Agriculture and Food Sciences, 12(2). 27-46.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/dafs.122.16904

Moreover, the utilization of these species in combination with FSCC, and access to high value

export markets, could help make sustainable forest management a more viable alternative in

many of world wildlife fund (WWF) priority places.

Ficus exasperata (known in Ghana as Nyankyereni) species is a member of Moraceae family and

well known all over the world as “fig plants” (OladosuI 2009). Joseph and Raj (2010)

emphasized that Ficus exasperata plants have vast traditional role in indigenous system of

medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy. The bark, leaves, fruits and latex are

considered to be very effective in diabetes, skin diseases, ulcers, dysentery, diarrhea,

stomachache, hemorrhoids and as carminative, astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and

anti-cancer agents. Bafor and Igbinuwen (2009) confirmed that Ficus exasperata Vahl.

(Moraceae), popularly referred to as “Sandpaper leaf tree” owing to the rough surface of the

leaves, is increasingly being used for a number of ailments and hence, studies validating the

traditional claims are on the increase. Available reports indicate that leaves of F. exasperata

exhibit antiulcer, hypotensive, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anti inflammatory, anxiolytic,

oxytocin inhibiting, anticonvulsant, antinociceptive, antipyretic, anti microbial, anti candidal,

insecticidal and pesticidal activities, Adewole et al., (2011); Akah et al., (1998); Bafor et al.,

(2011); Woode et al., (2009).

Ficus exasperata is cited by Baillie et al., (2004) as a lower risk least concern species with no

endemism. Hence, adding industrial utilization value to F. exasperata wood (a lesser-known

timber species LKS) and winning its adoption by wood users will be guaranteed if the wood is

well characterized. Recommended uses of F. exasperata wood will be based on comprehensive

knowledge of anatomical, physical and mechanical properties. However, information on these

technological properties is not available. To enhance the visibility of the species to the limelight

of the timber utilization industry, appreciation of the anatomical, physical and mechanical

properties of the timber species is of paramount importance. Usually, the anatomical

characteristics of a wood species relate to its physical properties, mechanical strength and

durability properties (Bakar et al., 2013). Thus, the urgent need to investigate into this

‘unattentioned’ timber species. The utilization and promotion of LKS and LUS can often act as a

substitute for more traditionally used species in terms of performance and aesthetic in most

applications. They are also generally more cost effective because they are often abundant in the

forest. Also, some of the LKS and LUS available have rich, truly beautiful colours and textures,

which can provide new design opportunities for many industry sectors. Moreover, the use of

LKS and LUS can alleviate pressure on the over-exploited timber species, and increase the

economic viability of responsible forest management.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wood Materials

Two Ficus exasperata stem specimens; Trees 1 (GP: 6°42.7400ˈN; 1°31.5400ˈW) and 2 (GP:

6°42.7400ˈN; 1°31.5400ˈW) of ages 31 and 27 years respectively, were obtained from Council

for Scientific and Industrial Research-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana campus at Fumesua

near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, a Moist Semi-deciduous Forest area for the study. The

harvested trees were divided into three non-equal parts: butt, middle and top with a average

diameter at breast height (DBH) of 25.59 cm. Three discs of 20 mm thick from the three