African woods

AFRICAN WOODS

SPECIES	DESCRIPTION	UTILISATION
	AFRORMOSIA Heartwood brownie yellow, verging on dark brown when exposed. Sapwood much clearer and well differentiated. Moderately fine texture. Veins straight ; crisscrossed. Some resemblance with teak .	Very durable and resistant wood
	Ekki (Click for more info) Heartwood dark red ; chocolate to brown purplish chestnut with white deposits visible in the vessels. Sapwood is up to 2cm wide ; pale rose and well defined. Texture usually coarse and grain tangled.	Beams, posts, heavy constructions (high mechanical resistance). Hydraulic works: Sluice gates, piles, bridges etc..
	OPEPE Heartwood orange or yellow ; when exposed dark gold. Whitish or pale yellow sapwood ; clearly defined. Texture rather coarse. Tangled grain.	General constructions, boards, Beams. Heavy framework. Hydraulic works (salt water) interior and exterior coatings. Planks
	AFLEZIA; Heartwood after exposing reddish brown. Sapwood : pale straw like yellow to whitish well differenciated. Texture moderate to coarse. Straight crisscrossed veins.	Heartwood very solid. Exterior joinery. Boards, heavy constructions. Harbour constructions.Tanks and reservoirs (resists acid).
	NIANGON; Heartwood pale rose to dark chestnut red when exposed. Sapwood up to 3 inches. Whitish and not always differenciated.Crisscrossed grain. Average texture.	Solid heartwood. Joinery and framework. Naval constructions. Conservatoires
	OKAN (Bokoka) Heartwood brown fluorescent with veins. Sapwood differentiated	Framework, planking (Mechanical characteristics close to ekki)
	SAPELLI Heartwood chestnut to dark red or purple. Sapwood whitish to pale distinct yellow.Texture rather fine, crisscrossed grain sometimes wavy.	Furniture and cabinet making, veneer, joinery flooring, panelling.
	IROKO Heartwood varies from pale yellowish chestnut to blackish chocolate.Sapwood: yellowish grain clearly defined. Average to coarse texture. Typically crisscrossed grain.	Proposed as a replacement for teak. Railway beams. Naval constructions. Interior and exterior joinery.
	MOABI Heartwood rose to reddish brown, or sharp red. Sapwood reddish white ; or grey chestnut, rather well defined. Fine and regular texture. Straight veins.	Very solid and resistant wood. Furniture. Cabinet making, flooring, sculptures. Decorative veneers.
	TALI Heartwood yellow or orangey brown with dark red reflects in the light. Distinct sapwood	Beams, heavy framework, Hydraulic works, posts, bridges, planks. Considered as a substitute to ekki.
Those species represented with a groove can be utilised in exterior planking

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