Search for

Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Light-Induced Color Change Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Abrasion Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Toxicity Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Chlorophora excelsa Trade Name Iroko Family Name Moraceae Synonyms Morus excelsa, Chlorophora alba, Chlorophora excelsa, Chlorophora tenuifolia, Maclura excelsa, Milicia africana Common Names Abang, African oak, African teak, Agui, Akede, Bakana, Bang, Banghi, Bobang, Bonzo, Bush oak, Bush teak, Bwagashanga, Corkwood, Elowa, Elua, Elui, Emang, Geh, Guele, Guh, Gutumba, Intule, Iroko, Kambala, Kimurumba, Logo asagu, Loko, Lusanga, Mamangi, Mandji, Mbala, Mbara, Mereira, Mgunda, Minarui, Mokongo, Moloundou, Molundu, Moreira, Muberry, Mucoco, Murie, Murumba, Mururi, Mutumba, Mutumbav, Muvule, Mvule, Mvuli, Nsan, Ntong, Obas tree, Odji, Odoum, Odum, Oduna, Ofryio, Olia, Olua, Olwaa, Oroko, Oroko ulokoodigpe, Rock elm, Roco, Rokko, Sanga, Semei, Semli, Sime, Simli, Simme, Ssare, Teak, Tema, Toumbohiro noir, Tule, Tule mufala, Uklobce, Ulok, Uloko-mushinogbon, Ulundu, Vai Regions of Distribution Africa Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire, Zimbabwe Common Uses Agricultural implements, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boat building: framing, Boat building: planking, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Cooperages, Core Stock, Decks, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Factory flooring, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Framing, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Golf club heads, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Lock gates, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Musical instruments: percussion, Office furniture, Paneling, Parquet flooring, Particleboard, Piling, Plain veneer, Plywood, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Railroad ties, Rustic furniture, Shingles, Stairworks, Tables, Turnery, Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wheel spokes, Wheels Environmental Profile Vulnerable Vulnerable in parts of its natural habitat Secure in many areas of its range Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center It is classified as Vulnerable in Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. It has also been classified as Endangered in Benin and Congo Heartwood Color Brown Yellow White Red Orange Tan Brown Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Pale brown Greenish to greyish Yellow bands Dark brown Lighter vessel lines are conspicuous on flat sawn surfaces. Large deposits of calcium carbonate, with darker colored surrounding material are usually present. Yellow bands of soft tissue are reported to form a zig-zag pattern on all surfaces. Sapwood Color Red Brown Yellow White White to yellow Well defined Same as heartwood Paler than heartwood Grain Interlocked Figure Distinct (figure) Stripe (figure) Wavy Straight Rippled (figure) Closed Even Mottled (figure) Growth rings (figure) Variable (figure) Interlocked Distinct figure Wavy Striped figure Straight Rippled figure Mottled figure Moderately interlocked Irregular color Clear growth rings (figure) Texture Fine Medium Uniform Even or uniform Coarse Medium to coarse Medium Medium coarse and uniform Luster Medium High Lustrous Pronounced Low Natural Growth Defects Gum and mineral deposits Reaction wood may be found Natural Durability Perishable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Very durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Susceptible to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) often present in the standing tree Resistant to attack from pinworms (ambrosia beetles) Resistant to attack from marine borers Pinworms (ambrosia beetles) are commonly present Durable Moderately resistant to marine borer attack Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Sapwood is highly resistant to termite attack Resistant to attack from powder post (Lyctid & Bostrychid) beetles Moderate weathering properties Heartwood resistant to decay Heartwood is susceptible to attack by dry-wood insects Light-Induced Color Change Darker Toxicity Unspecified toxicity Dermatitic effects Respiratory effects Kiln Schedules Drying (speed) is fast UK=E US=T6D2/T3D1 Fr=5 Dry at a moderate speed Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is rapid Kiln Drying Rate (in days) is fairly rapid T6 - D2 (4/4) US T3 - D1 (8/4) US Drying Defects Distortion Slight end splitting No end splitting Slight twist/warp No twisting or warping Slight surface checking Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Rapidly Moderately Difficult to Difficult Requires special attention Easy Kiln Drying Rate Naturally dries quickly Rapid (<10 days for boards < 32 mm, to <30 days for boards >= 63 mm) Fairly rapid (11-17 days for boards under 32 mm, to 31-51 days for boards greater than 63 mm) Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is cylindrical Bole/stem form is not buttressed Bole/stem form is straight Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bark width is 5-10 mm Tree height is 40-50 m Product Sources The ITTO reports that the species is a regular source of timber. Timber export is regular except in the Ivory Coast where exportation of the material in log form is prohibited. Iroko is available in moderate quantities in long lengths, wide boards, and in the form of veneers on the European market are priced in the same range as the lower cost hardwoods. Availability in the U.S. is rather limited, but Iroko is sold at comparatively inexpensive prices when available. Iroko is substituted for Teak in many applications, since it performs just as well as Teak and is less expensive. Comments Chemical resistant General finishing qualities are rated as good Blunting Effect Blunting effect on machining is severe Blunting effect on machining is moderate Blunting effect on sawing green wood is moderate Blunting effect on sawing dry wood is moderate Blunting effect on machining is fairly severe Severe and rapid blunting effect Boring Fairly difficult to very difficult Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Cutting Resistance with green wood is easy Easy to saw Difficult to saw Cutting Resistance with dry wood is easy Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Easy to glue Glues well Casein glue may produce black glue line Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Finishes well Easy to mortise Moulding Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fair to Good Results Easy to mould Movement in Service Unstable with Poor Stability - Large Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Small Stable Nailing Fair to Good Results Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Easy to nail Holds nails well Good nailing properties Difficult to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good planing results, but can be variable Easy to plane Difficult to plane Areas of interlocked grain may cause tearing Resistance to Abrasion Moderate Resistance to Impregnation Permeable sapwood Resistant heartwood Permeable heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is highly resistant Sapwood is extremely resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Variable qualities Satisfactorily Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult