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African Mahogany
Khaya
Light red, fairly uniform colour. Timber exposed to air shifts into reddish brown. Some pieces are patterned, bringing out the silver figure or have a mottled aspect.
Origin: Gabon, Cameroon and Congo
Possible end-uses: Cabinet-making, furniture, millwork, joinery, boatbuilding
Marketing: Sawnwood
Physical and mechanical properties: Good elasticity, shock resistant, medium natural durability
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Ayous
Ayous
Triplochiton scleroxylon
The wood is naturally very light yellow to white or grey. Sapwood and heartwood of the same colour. Also called Obeche, Samba or Wawa
Origin: Cameroon
Possible end-uses: Plywood, mouldings, sauna slats, interior joinery.
Marketing: Logs, KD sawnwood and finished products
Physical and mechanical properties: The wood has fine texture and is easy to work
Download the CIRAD’s technical data sheet
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Azobé
Azobé
Lophira alata
Dark red to purple brown wood. Intermediary zone between the sapwood and perfect wood (duramen). White deposits in the pores.
Origin: Cameroon
Possible end-uses: Hydraulic works (in freshwater and in a maritime environment), sleepers, bridges, heavy carpentry, wood frame construction
Marketing: Logs
Physical and mechanical properties: Very heavy and hard wood with excellent resistance
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Bilinga
Bilinga
Nauclea diderrichii
The wood is perfect golden yellow or yellow orange slightly mottled. Stable wood colour when used for interior applications. Well demarcated sapwood, medium texture. Also called Badi.
Origin: Cameroon
Possible end-uses: Sleepers, hydraulic works (even for seawater uses), exterior panelling, heavy carpentry, bridges, shipbuilding
Marketing: Logs
Physical and mechanical properties: Rather heavy and hard wood. Good stability
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Bossé
Guarea cedrata
The wood is uniformly pinkish brown. The fibre is usually quite curly, producing a nice mottled aspect. It can be quite oily due to resin exudation.
Origin: Cameroon and Congo
Possible end-uses: Cabinet-making, interior and exterior joinery, furniture, stairs
Marketing: Sawnwood and logs
Physical and mechanical properties: the wood is soft, moderately nervous and elastic with excellent shock-resistance.
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Dabema
Piptadeniastrum africanum
Light brown wood going towards dark brown on exposure, with a particular odour when green.
Origin: Gabon, CameroonPossible end-uses: sliced veneers, heavy carpentry, flooring, exterior panelling
Marketing: Logs and sawnwood
Physical and mechanical properties: the wood is moderately hard, very nervous, with excellent shock-resistance.
Download the CIRAD’s technical data sheet
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Eyong
Piptadeniastrum africanum
Light brown wood going towards dark brown on exposure, with a particular odour when green.
Origin: Cameroon
Possible end-uses: furniture, flooring, veneers, interior joinery
Marketing: Logs
Physical and mechanical properties: Semi-hard wood, nervous, quite fissile and elastic
Download the CIRAD’s technical data sheet
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Frake
Terminalia Superba
The wood is rather uniformly straw yellow with slight interlocked grain Also called Limba.
Origin: Cameroon
Possible end-uses: plywood, sliced veneers, moulding, interior and exterior joinery
Marketing: Logs and sawnwood
Physical and mechanical properties: Soft to semi-hard wood, moderately nervous. Fissile, low shock-resistance
Download the CIRAD’s technical data sheet
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Mukulungu
Red brown wood with dark brown veins. Well demarcated sapwood and fine texture. Slightly interlocked grain.
Origin: Cameroon
Possible end-uses: Hydraulic works in seawater, bridges, exterior panelling, heavy carpentry, sleepers, bottom plates for vehicles or containers
Marketing: Logs and sawnwood
Physical and mechanical properties: Heavy and hard wood with good mechanical properties
Download the CIRAD’s technical data sheet
Logs
