Africa is home to many of the best varieties of tropical timber trees in the world. However, not all of these species are easily accessible or known outside the continent so in the following blog, we’ll show you a list of the 5 most popular timbers of African origin among expert carpenters and builders around the world. We can assure you that these woods are synonymous with quality in any construction or carpentry work you want to do.
African woods, varieties worth their weight in gold
Ebony, Acajou, Duossié, and Iroko (2 varieties) are world-renowned and coveted woods, so much so that they are practically all on the verge of extinction due to the indiscriminate felling these species have suffered in recent decades.
As always, before starting, we recommend you consult our blog on basic concepts of wood to better understand the information presented here.
Now we provide a description of everything you need to know about these species. But keep in mind that, if you decide to buy any of them, the responsibility is yours to demand the certificates that prove that these woods are of legal origin in the context of sustainable cultivation and are not the result of illegal hunting.
1. Gabon Ebony wood or African Ebony (Diospyros crassiflora)
Characteristics of the tree Diospyros crassiflora
| Location | West African rainforests present in countries such as: Gabon. Cameroon. Central African Republic. The Republic of Congo. The Democratic Republic of the Congo. Equatorial Guinea. Nigeria. Madagascar. |
| Height | Between 18 and 25 meters on average. But it rarely reaches more than 15 meters before it is felled. |
| Diameter | Between 80 and 120 centimeters. |
| Flower | They can come individually or in groups. With berries as fruits. |
| Leaves | Green, shiny and oval. |
| Branches | Tortuous cuts, i.e., tangled. |
| Habitat | Species native to the Guinean mainland in Gabon. It needs habitats with high ambient and soil humidity. It tolerates heat well, but in excess, it can damage it. However, it does not grow in the shade. In addition, it needs cool areas and is found in areas near rivers. |
| Shelf life | In ideal conditions it can exceed 60 years, but very rarely does it reach that age. |
| Conservation status (IUCN) | This species is considered vulnerable. Ebony is on the IUCN Red List, as it has a high probability of becoming an endangered species. This is especially due to the loss of hectares of rainforest to generate land for agriculture and indiscriminate logging. |
This tree takes its name from its country of origin: Gabon. Furthermore, this phanerogamous, i.e. seed-producing species, belongs to the Ebenaceae family; in fact, among all the species of the family, Diospyros crassiflora is the one that produces the darkest wood.
Likewise, the pith of this tree has been used since ancient times in Egypt, which is not common because pith wood in other species is almost never used because it is usually of poor quality.
And while we’re at it, do you remember what part of the tree trunk the wood is extracted from in the vast majority of species?
That’s right! From the sapwood and heartwood, especially the heartwood which is the wood itself.
Anyway, let’s get back to the topic.
This is a slow-growing tree and that has made extracting its wood increasingly difficult and time-consuming, so the supply cannot meet the high demand, which worsens the situation of the species as prices have risen sharply and this has only increased poaching.
Characteristics of African Ebony wood
Overview and applications
African Ebony wood is a tropical wood considered the African wood par excellence, that is to say, it is the most popular and recognized wood of the whole continent, as well as the most sought-after.
It is hardwood with great durability, it is porous and has a high luster finish, that is, it can be very shiny if properly polished, which makes it very beautiful. Its main applications are in:
- Luxury cabinetmaking.
- Elaboration of sculptures.
- Carving.
- Manufacture of canes.
- Manufacture of billiard cues.
- Manufacture of door knobs.
- Manufacture of handles for tools and knives.
- Manufacture of handles for firearms.
- Manufacture of the black keys of the old pianos.
- Manufacture of guitar frets and bridges.
- Manufacture of chess pieces.
- Manufacture of pegs for violins, violas, cellos and double basses.
On the other hand, keep in mind that there are wood species in Asia that give a black color and are also called Ebony, but they are not African Ebony and don’t have the same quality.
So if at any time you are offered Ebony wood, be wary, because African Ebony is very scarce and therefore is extremely expensive. So if you see that whoever offers you “Ebony” wood has a lot of it and sells it to you at a very affordable price, for sure that what they offer you is not African Ebony or not even Ebony of any kind.
Another thing to consider is that most species of the Diospyros genus don’t produce Ebony wood and the few that produce it, don’t produce uniformly black wood like African Ebony, but rather black wood with stripes; this will also help you to differentiate them.
Finally, and as a curious fact, it is worth mentioning that since the time of ancient Egypt, Ebony was already known as a high-quality wood. So much so that making furniture from this wood was considered an art called cabinetmaking and those who made it were known as cabinetmakers.
Age of felling or cutting
It should never be felled before the age of 30 years, although poachers do it at any time and as we have seen before, this only harms the quality of the wood and endangers the species. If the tree is felled at a young age it cannot reproduce and the number of specimens is reduced.
Color
Dark, almost black.
Sapwood
It can have light tones that can sometimes even reach white; the usual is that it is well delimited.
Heartwood
It has dark colors ranging from dark brown to black frank. Sometimes African Ebony has brown or gray streaks but this is not usual.
If it has too many stripes it is probably not African Ebony.
Characteristic defects
Occasional heartwood decay.
Density
Ebony wood is very dense, around 1,050 kg/m3. This means that it is denser than water and therefore sinks in water, which is not common.
Fiber
Straight most of the time, however, sometimes it is also interwoven.
Grain
Fine.
Hardness
Ebony has a Monnin score of 7.0, so it is hardwood.
Durability
It is a wood that resists well against fungi and insects. Moisture doesn’t affect it too much so it is highly sought after.
Dimensional stability
Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage
0.51 moderately nervous wood.
Impregnability
Sapwood is very impregnable, and heartwood is moderately impregnable.
Mechanical properties
Compressive strength
591 kg/cm2
Static flexural strength
1,326 kg/cm2
Modulus of elasticity
158,000 kg/cm2
Workability
Sawing
It is difficult due to its hardness; it makes the saws constantly wear out.
Drying
In both industrial and natural drying, there is a risk of deformation of the wood.
Planing
No problems as long as the grain is straight. It is more difficult if the fiber is interlocked because remember that to plane the wood you must follow the natural disposition of the fiber; interlocked fibers follow more than one direction.
Gluing
No major problems, although sometimes it can be a little more difficult if the wood exudes a lot of oils because they do not allow the glues to do their job well.
Nailing and screwing
Chipping is possible if no drill is used when drilling screw holes.
Finishing
Easy, because of its texture when treated with varnish and polished, it gives a very particular and aesthetic luster.
2. African mahogany (Khaya ivorensis)
Characteristics of the Khaya ivorensis tree
| Location | This species is native to the jungle areas of countries such as: o Angola.o Cameroon.o Ivory Coast.o Gabon.o Ghana.o Liberia.o Nigeria. |
| Height | 40 to 50 meters high. |
| Diameter | Between 100 and 250 centimeters. |
| Flower | White located at the end of the branches. |
| Leaves | Dark green in color, distributed in groups of 6 to 9 per stem. |
| Branches | They are usually found only up to 30 meters from the trunk. |
| Habitat | This tree grows in dry climates present in the tropical rainforest at sea level, where the annual temperature ranges between 24 and 27 °C (75 and 77 °F). It is an adaptable species that does not need much to survive. It has a medium tolerance to flooding during the rainy season but prefers little water. |
| Shelf life | In good conditions it can easily reach 60 years, but in plantations destined for commercial exploitation this time is reduced to 30 or even 20 years. |
| Conservation status (IUCN) | This species is considered vulnerable Mainly due to the loss of hectares of rainforest caused by deforestation for agriculture and cattle ranching, as well as excessive logging. |
The Khaya ivorensis species is a member of the Meliaceae family, which is widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics, as well as in temperate zones.
The Acajou has a particularity and, although it is fast growing as it reaches a height of between 7 and 13 meters in 4 years, this speed of growth is not correlated with maturity. In other words, poachers cut it down when they see it is tall, but they don’t consider that this does not imply that it is mature and therefore has good quality wood.
Characteristics of Acajou wood
Overview and applications
Acajou wood has good quality but doesn’t be fooled by its name “African Mahogany” because its quality is not the same as real mahogany. It is called this way only to give it more commercial appeal and because it has a certain aesthetic resemblance, but other than that they have practically nothing in common.
This wood is mainly used in:
- Luxury interior and exterior joinery.
- Interior carpentry (skirting boards, doors, paneling).
- Exterior carpentry (doors and window frames).
- Veneer and plywood manufacturing.
- Lathing.
Age of felling or cutting
In the wild, it should not be felled before 30 years of age since it is only then that it reaches maturity.
In addition, only every 3 or 4 years it produces a viable amount of seeds so that the species can reproduce effectively.
In plantations, it is usually cut at around 20 years of age.
Color
Both sapwood and heartwood are well differentiated.
Sapwood
White-pink.
Heartwood
Brown to light pink, but with exposure to light it becomes darker.
Characteristic defects
Very soft pith that, rather than a defect, is a characteristic common to many kinds of wood and for that reason, this part is not used to extract wood.
Density
It is a semi-heavy wood, with an apparent density of 12% of 510 kg/m3.
Fiber
Straight, although often interlocked.
Grain
Intermediate.
Hardness
It is a soft wood with a Monnin score of 2.5.
Durability
Acajou wood is resistant to moisture but is susceptible to insects.
Dimensional Stability
Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage
0,39%. Somewhat nervous.
Impregnability
Sapwood is moderately impregnable; heartwood is not impregnable.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive strength
460 kg/cm2.
Static flexural strength
760 kg/cm2
Modulus of elasticity.
94.000 kg/cm2
Workability
Sawing
Easy.
Drying
Although industrial drying is always faster than natural drying, this wood dries quickly in its natural state; however, there is a greater risk of deformation with this drying method.
Planing
Difficult due to the interlocked grain.
Gluing
No problems.
Nailing and screwing
No problems.
Finishing
No problems.
3. Doussié or vitacola wood (Afzelia spp or African)
Characteristics of the Afzelia spp. Tree
| Location | Native to savannahs located in central and western Africa in more than 15 countries, including: Cameroon Benin. Burkina Faso. Central African Republic. Chad. The Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ivory Coast. Ghana. |
| Height | It ranges from 25 to 37 meters high. |
| Diameter | Between 100 and 150 cm approximately. |
| Flower | Whitish yellow with a sweet aroma. They have 5 petals. |
| Leaves | Bright green, usually in clusters of 6 per stem. High in nitrogen which enriches the soil where the tree grows. |
| Branches | They are only present from 20 meters high and are quite thick. |
| Habitat | Afzelia species grow on rocky slopes, but they also grow on the savannah, where they grow a little less. They are resistant to heat and dry, almost desert-like environments, but they need water sources nearby because in their habitat the average annual temperature ranges between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius. Likewise, for the tree to thrive, the soil needs to have good humidity, but also good drainage so that its roots do not “puddle” and rot. |
| Shelf life | It can exceed 40 years of age. |
| Conservation status (IUCN) | This species is considered vulnerable. Again because of indiscriminate logging. In fact, in Cameroon, where there are more specimens, the species is more threatened by logging for cattle ranching. |
The term Afzelia spp encompasses more than 10 species of tropical trees originating from the African and Asian savannas, which in turn belong to the Fabaceae family.
Also, we can tell you that, in general, the trees and wood that African species produce are very similar to each other and there are only some very small differences, which is why the characteristics that we describe here are general and apply to all of them.
Characteristics of Doussié wood
Generalities and applications
The first thing we can tell you about Doussié wood is that, although Afzelia wood is extracted in Asia, the most commercially valuable internationally is African Afzelia because it is denser and harder.
Having said that, remember that woods are not always better just because they are harder and/or denser, but because these characteristics make them better suited for specific jobs.
For example, if you need wood for structural uses you can always use pine wood, which, although it is neither the hardest nor the densest, is widely available, which makes it economical and adapts to almost any job.
However, if what you want is multipurpose wood, i.e. one that you can use in more than one application such as carpentry, joinery, and construction, and you have a good budget to spend, you better use wood of higher density and hardness because that guarantees that the wood will resist mechanical forces. At the same time, if it looks good, you can make resistant and beautiful furniture.
As a curious fact, you should know evidence shows that this wood was formerly used for shipbuilding. In fact, a few years ago in Indonesia, a shipwreck of a 9th-century vessel was discovered whose hull was made of African Afzelia wood.
Finally, keep in mind that Doussié wood is a multipurpose wood that will serve you for the most demanding uses as well as for decorative purposes. In addition, this wood is of such good quality that it is often used as a replacement for woods such as Mahogany or Teak since its durability is very similar.
The main applications of this wood are:
- Interior and exterior joinery.
- Interior carpentry (doors, stairs, paneling, and moldings).
- Exterior carpentry (doors and window frames).
- Interior and exterior carpentry
- Decorative veneers.
- Cooperage.
Age of felling or cutting
This tree reaches reproductive and timber maturity at around 25 to 27 years of age, so it shouldn’t be felled before that time.
Color
Sapwood
Yellowish white.
Heartwood
Reddish brown.
Density
Apparent density at 12% humidity of 790 kg/m3, it is a heavy wood.
Fiber
Straight most of the time, although it is sometimes interlocked.
Grain
Intermediate.
Hardness
It is a hardwood with values between 7.4 and 7.7 in the Monnin test.
Durability
It is a highly durable wood. Moderately durable against termites and marine borers, which are insects that leave large exit holes in the trunks because they drill or “borer” the wood of the trunk and roots during their larval stage.
These insects then produce sawdust and sap-filled holes that greatly weaken the tree.
Nevertheless, Doussié wood is very resistant to other insects.
Dimensional Stability
Volumetric shrinkage coefficient
Between 0.34 and 0.40%, somewhat nervous wood.
Impregnability
Sapwood is moderately impregnable; heartwood is not impregnable.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive strength
740 kg/cm2.
Static flexural strength
1.730 kg/cm2
Modulus of elasticity
137,000 kg/cm3
Workability
Sawing
Difficult due to the hardness of the wood itself, which wears tools very quickly.
Drying
Slow, with risk of deformation.
Planing
Generally, without problems.
Gluing
No problems
Nailing and screwing
Drilling should be used to prevent chipping or cracking.
Finishing
Sometimes there may be problems with the application of varnish.
Note: the sawdust that is released can induce allergies, so it is best to always use gloves and eye, mouth, and nose protection.
4. Iroko wood (Milicia or Chlorophora spp)
Milicia spp. includes several species of trees, two of which are widely appreciated for the quality of their wood: 1. Milicia or Chlorophora excelsa and 2. Milicia or Chlorophora regia, both belonging to the Moraceae family: tropical plants distributed in the forests of Central, East, and West Africa.
In botanical terms there are no major differences between the species; however, in terms of timber, there are relevant differences between these two varieties that we are going to tell you about.
4.1 Wood of Iroko or Iroko (Milicia or Chlorophora excelsa)
Characteristics of the Milicia or Chlorophora excelsa tree
| Location | This tree is native to the lands of the Gulf of Guinea and Zaire, as well as in East Africa where it is scarcer. Most specimens are found in countries such as: ZaireSierra LeoneLiberiaIvory CoastGhanaNigeriaCameroonGabonRepublic of CongoAngolaMozambique |
| Height | Between 30 and 48 meters on average, although trees exceeding 50 meters have been found, this is not common. |
| Diameter | Approximately 150 cm in most specimens. |
| Flower | Small and pendulous in the shape of a pendulum. They are unisexual, that is to say, that in some trees there are female flowers and in others there are only male flowers. |
| Leaves | Dark green in color; oval in shape. They measure between 15 and 20 cm. |
| Branches | Present from 20 meters above sea level. |
| Habitat | It is distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical zones of Africa in areas with high rainfall, i.e. places where it rains a lot during the year. The tree thrives in areas below 1000 meters above sea level and can grow in a wide range of conditions in terms of humidity. |
| Shelf life | In a natural environment, the tree can live 60 or more years. But for commercial uses, it is felled much earlier. |
| Conservation status (IUCN) | Close to threatened. This means that, although the species does not meet the criteria to be classified as vulnerable, it is expected to become so in the near future. |
The Milicia excelsa tree is considered sacred by some African tribal cultures who protect it, especially if the tree grows near their homes and farmlands.
For example, the Yoruba people, present in countries such as Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Togo, believe that the tree harbors ancestral spirits and that is why people who cut the tree and their families may fall into disgrace after cutting down the trunk as these spirits are released and haunt them day and night causing them to go mad and die soon after.
Is this true? We don’t know, but we can tell you that these beliefs have helped partly to the conservation of the species; the problem is that in recent decades, poachers come armed to where the trees are and tribal people can do little to stop them.
Characteristics of Iroko wood
Generalities and applications
This wood has a massive and dense appearance and many call it the African Teak as it is almost as durable and can perform the same functions. However, it is not as oily to the touch as real Teak.
It is therefore considered to be one of the noblest woods on the planet. So it is not surprising that it is so desirable. Unfortunately, there is not enough offer to supply the great demand and that is what has generated the rapid decrease in the specimens.
Besides, an important aspect that you should always remember is that the name of the wood changes depending on the country of origin. Below, we show you in parentheses the common name that the wood receives in each country.
- Sierra Leone (Iroko).
- Liberia (Iroko).
- Ivory Coast (Odum).
- Ghana (Rokko).
- Nigeria (Abang).
- Cameroon (Abang and Mandjii).
- Gabon (Kambala).
- Republic of Congo (Lusanda, Molundu and Mokongo).
- Zaire (Moreira).
- Angola (Tule and Muzafa).
- Mozambique (Mvuli, Mvule and Kambala).
However, keep in mind that the common name of this wood for export is Iroko.
Finally, let’s look at the most common applications of Iroko.
- General joinery (i.e. it is used in luxury furniture, but also in outdoor furniture).
- Parquet and parquet manufacturing.
- Naval construction (manufacture of boats, structures for docks and ports).
- Production of decorative veneers.
- Interior carpentry (doors, stairs, paneling, moldings, skirting boards, and friezes).
- Exterior carpentry.
Age of felling or cutting
It is usually felled between 9 and 24 meters, i.e. at approximately 5 to 10 years of age on average.
Color
Sapwood
Yellowish white
Heartwood
Yellowish brown turning reddish with exposure to light.
Density
Apparent density at 12% humidity 650 kg/m3. It is a semi-heavy wood.
Fiber
Straight and sometimes slightly interlocked.
Grain
Intermediate to coarse.
Hardness
A score of 3.9 Monnin, is a semi-hardwood.
Durability
Its natural durability is very good due to the oils it exudes, but insects can attack the sapwood so it is advisable to protect the wood with pesticides. It resists fungal attacks very well.
Dimensional Stability
Coefficient of volumetric shrinkage
0.36 wood is not very nervous.
Impregnability
Sapwood is impregnable; heartwood is not impregnable.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive strength
540 kg/cm3
Static flexural strength
955 kg/cm3
Modulus of elasticity
105,000 kg/cm3
Workability
Sawing
No problems.
Drying
Medium to slow.
Planing
No problems.
Gluing
The glue must be of very good quality to prevent the wood from peeling off, remember that it is an oily wood so it can interact badly with glues.
Nailing and screwing
No problems.
Finishing
Problems with some varnishes as it doesn’t allow them to dry.
Note: Its dust can generate allergies or respiratory problems. It is recommended to use protection when working with it.
4.2 Iroko or Iroko wood (Milicia or Chlorophora Regia)
Characteristics of the Milicia Regia tree
| Location | This species is native to a geographic belt extending from Zanzibar on the east coast of Africa to Gambia on the west coast. The countries with the most specimens are: Benin. Cameroon. Ivory Coast. Gambia. Ghana. Guinea. Guinea-Bissau. Liberia. Senegal. |
| Height | Between 35 and 45 meters. |
| Diameter | Up to 200 centimeters. |
| Flower | Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. Male trees are taller and slenderer than female trees and start flowering first. |
| Leaves | The leaves are borne on short petioles (the part that joins the leaf to the stem or branch). Oval in shape. Dark green, with a length of up to 7 centimeters. |
| Branches | Present from 20 meters above sea level. |
| Habitat | It grows in humid forests and savannahs. It adapts to various soil types, including arid ones. But, the annual rainfall in cultivated areas is between 1000 and 2500 mm. That is a lot of rain per year. In any case, it has been observed that in very dry climates the tree does not grow well, but it does need a lot of light and can die if there is too much shade. In general, it is a tree that demands a lot of water, but paradoxically it does not resist well to floods because its roots rot. |
| Shelf life | About 60 years old. |
| Conservation status (IUCN) | This species is considered vulnerable. Because of indiscriminate logging. |
This tree is a source of food for some herbivores and its fruit is traded in local markets in Africa.
Since the 1980s, its felling has increased to such an extent that there are almost no specimens left, i.e., the cutting rate is not compensated by the reforestation rate proposed by local governments.
In addition, something similar to what happens with the Milicia excelsa occurs with this tree since tribal peoples consider it a sacred tree and try to protect it. Yet we must take into consideration that its habitat is also the place of operation of many paramilitary militias that finance their criminal activities with the furtive extraction of its timber.
Characteristics of Iroko wood
Overview and applications
Iroko wood from the Milicia Regia tree is considered one of the finest in Africa. It is a strong, resistant, and durable wood with a rough texture.
It is even more valued than its “sister” Milicia excelsa because it has a superior appearance and durability and is easier to work with.
Age at felling or cutting
Over 10 years.
Color
It is difficult to tell the difference between sapwood and heartwood with the naked eye.
Sapwood
Yellowish brown.
Heartwood
Yellowish brown.
Density
Bulk density at 12% humidity between 700 and 750/m3. It is a semi-heavy to heavy wood.
Fiber
Fine.
Grain
Intermediate.
Hardness
It is a semi-hardwood with 4.7 on the Monnin test.
Durability
Highly durable wood, it is resistant to termite and fungal attacks. However, some insects are able to attack the sapwood but don’t penetrate the heartwood.
Dimensional Stability
Volumetric Shrinkage Coefficient
0.34, it is a very stable wood.
Impregnability
Sapwood and heartwood are moderately impregnable.
Mechanical Properties
Compressive strength
540 kg/cm3
Static flexural strength
980 kg/cm3
Modulus of elasticity
105,000 kg/cm2
Workability
Sawing
This wood is quite hard so it wears out equipment very quickly, especially saw blades.
Drying
Slow, but without problems.
Planing
No problems.
Gluing
No problems.
Nailing and screwing
No problems.
Finishing
It admits better varnish compared to Milicia Excelsa wood, but it is still a little difficult to apply.
Note: the dust and sawdust of this wood tend to trigger dermatitis so the use of protection is recommended.