Padouk
Pterocarpus soyauxii
The wood has bright red colour, which rapidly turns purplish brown when exposed to light. Slightly interlocked grain. Fine texture.
Origin: Cameroon, Congo and Gabon
Possible end-uses: flooring, heavy carpentry, decking, exterior panelling.
Marketing: Sawnwood and Joists
Physical and mechanical properties: the wood is hard to semi-hard, moderately nervous and elastic with excellent shock-resistance. Naturally durable.
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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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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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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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
