Afrormosia

Environmental

Classified as endangered (at high risk of extinction in the wild) and CITES II listed. Trade permitted subject to export permits from the country of origin (and re-export permits as appropriate) and UK import permits from the Department for Trade and Industry. Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as EN – Endangered: at very high risk of extinction.

Distribution

Afrormosia is found in the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Zaire, and to a small extent in Nigeria.

The tree

A large tree (except in Nigeria), it reaches a height of 45m and a diameter of 1.2m or slightly more.

The timber

Sapwood small, about 12mm wide, slightly lighter in colour than the brownish heartwood. When first cut the heartwood is yellowish-brown, darkening on exposure to a pleasing brownish-yellow, somewhat resembling teak, but with a finer texture, and lacking the oily nature of teak. The grain is straight to interlocked, and the wood weighs about 710 kg/m³ when dried.

Drying

Dries rather slowly, with little degrade.

Strength

Afrormosia is superior to teak in most of its mechanical properties and is very similar to home grown beech, except in resistance to compression where it is about 20 per cent stronger.

Working qualities

Medium - The wood works well with only a slight tendency to pick up, but a cutting angle of 20° usually produces a good finish. It can be glued and polished satisfactorily, but tends to split when nailed.