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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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Afrormosia
Pericopsis élata
Yellow brown heartwood going towards dark brown after exposure. Light and well-defined sapwood; fine texture.
Origin: Cameroon
Possible end-uses: Flooring, veneer, furniture, joinery
Marketing: Sawnwood – CITES species
Physical and mechanical properties: the wood is hard and elastic with excellent shock-resistance. The texture is fine and the wood is naturally durable
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Agba
Agba
Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum
Yellow brown to light brown wood. Not clearly demarcated sapwood, medium texture. Light peppery odeur. Also called Tola.
Origin: Gabon
Possible end-uses: Veneer and Plywood, glued laminated, exterior joinery, light carpentry
Marketing: Sawn timber
Physical and mechanical properties: The wood is quite light, with low shrinkage and stable in use
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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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Béli
Béli
Julbernardia pellegriniana
There are two sub-species: The brown Beli (alternating different shades of brown), and the red Beli (uniform coppery red colour)
Origin: Gabon
Possible end-uses: Cabinet-making, flooring, plywood, coffins.
(Download the table of application for African species)Marketing: Sawnwood
Physical and mechanical properties: semi-hard to hard wood, nervous, elastic and resistant to splitting
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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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Dibetou
Lovoa Klaineana
This wood is yellowish or grey brown and has black depots in its pores. Also called Bibolo.
Origin: Cameroon and Gabon
Possible end-uses: sliced veneers, cabinet-making, furniture, interior joinery
Marketing: Sawnwood
Physical and mechanical properties: the wood is soft, moderately nervous, quite fissile and with low shock-resistance.
Download the CIRAD’s technical data sheet
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Doussie
Afzelia bipiendensis, Afzelia pachyloba
After sawing, the wood is first light brown and then darkens. The general aspect is rather uniform with quite coarse texture.
Origin: Cameroon
Possible end-uses: flooring, furniture, cabinet-making, exterior and interior joinery
Marketing: Sawnwood
Physical and mechanical properties: the wood is hard to very hard, moderately nervous, quite fissile and with low shock-resistance. Very low shrinkage, very good dimensional stability
Download the CIRAD’s technical data sheet
Sawn timber
