Species overview

Taun 

– Pometia pinnata

Other Names

: Akwa, Tava, Ahabu

Region of Origin

: Solomon Islands

SPECIES OVERVIEW:

Taun heartwood colour is pink-brown maturing to a dull 

reddish-brown with age. The grain is usually straight but 

sometimes interlocked or with a regular wave. 

MAIN USES:

A medium density hardwood with a large range of 

applications from structural work to joinery, furniture, 

cabinets, flooring and heavy construction – it may 

require treatment for high hazard applications. It has 

particular application in New Zealand for hardwood 

door cores in the manufacture of fire doors.

WORKING PROPERTIES:

Machines satisfactorily, good gluing and nailing 

properties although splitting may occur. It finishes  

well and is a good bending timber. Non-siliceous.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES:

Taun is a medium density hardwood that is moderately 

hard and strong with excellent steam bending 

properties.

AVAILABILITY:

Specifications stocked at Rosenfeld Kidson are:  

Sawn 40mm and 50mm thicknesses in varying  

fixed widths.

GRADING:

Select.

Species Fact Sheet

DENSITY (kg/m3)

*

:  

710

DURABILITY:  

Moderately durable

STRENGTH GROUP: 

 

SD4

MOR (MPa): 

 

113

MOE(GPa): 

 13.5

JANKA(kN):  

5.5

SHRINKAGE GREEN TO 12% M.C.   

Tangential Radial

 

 7.0 

5.0

*Air Dry Density (kg/m3) is average indication only and actual value may vary. Refer to timber properties tables over page for strength, shrinkage and durability classifications.

Email: [e-mail]

Web: www.rosenfeldkidson.co.nz

Auckland Branch:

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

513 Mount Wellington Highway

Mount Wellington

Auckland 1060

Christchurch Branch:

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone] 

15 Edmonton Road

Hornby

Christchurch 8042 

Postal Address:

P O Box 621

Shortland Street

Auckland 1140

Email: [e-mail]

Web: www.rosenfeldkidson.co.nz

Auckland Branch:

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

513 Mount Wellington Highway

Mount Wellington

Auckland 1060

Christchurch Branch:

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone] 

15 Edmonton Road

Hornby

Christchurch 8042 

Postal Address:

P O Box 621

Shortland Street

Auckland 1140

Timber Properties

STRENGTH GROUPINGS:

SHRINKAGE CLASSIFICATIONS:

DURABILITY CLASSIFICATIONS:

Minimum

 

values

 

for

 

strength

 

groups

         

(unseasoned

 

timber)

 

 

 

 

(units are Mpa = 145 lb/sq.inch) 

Strength 

group 

Modulus of

rupture 

Modulus of

elasticity 

Maximum

crushing 

strength 

S1 

103 

16300 

52 

S2 

76 

14200 

43 

S3 

73 

12400 

36 

S4 

62 

10700 

31 

S5 

52 

9100 

26 

S6 

43 

7900 

22 

S7 

36 

6900 

18 

 

Minimum values for strength groups             

(seasoned timber) 

(units are Mpa = 145 lb/sq.inch)

Strength 

group 

Modulus of 

rupture 

Modulus of 

elasticity 

Maximum

 

crushing

 

strength

 

SD1

150

21500 

80

SD2

130

18500 

70

SD3

110

16000 

61

SD4

94

14000 

54

SD5

78

12500 

47

SD6

65

10500 

41

SD7

55

9100 

36

SD8

45

7900 

30

 

Description of

 

shrinkage 

Shrinkage from Green to Oven-dry (12% MC) 

(%) before reconditioning 

Tangential

Radial

Very low 

0 - 3.5

0 - 2

Low 

3.5 - 5.0

2 - 3

Medium 

5.0 - 6.5

3 - 4

High 

6.5 - 8.0

4 - 5

Very high 

> 8.0

> 5

Grade of durability 

Approximate service life (years) 

Fully protected 

Above ground, 

exposed 

In-ground, exposed

Very durable 

>50

>40

>25 

Durable 

>50

15-40

15-25 

Moderately durable 

>50

7-15

5-15 

Non-durable 

>50

0-7

0-5 

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Document Outline

• Taun
• Back of Species Sheets