Iroko

Iroko is golden-orange to brown, lighter vessel lines are conspicuous on flat saw surfaces. The material may contain large, hard deposits of calcium carbonate in cavities, and the timber around them may be darker in colour.

Durability:

The sapwood is liable to attack by powder post beetle, but is highly resistant to termites in Africa. The heartwood is very durable, and is extremely resistant to preservative treatment. The sapwood is permeable.

Mechanical Properties:

Iroko's medium density timber has a moderate steam bending classification, with medium bending and crushing strength, very low stiffness and resistance to shock loads.

Seasoning:

Iroko dries fairly rapidly and well without much degrade and there is a tendency for stick marks to show during drying. There is a small movement in service.

Uses:

  • Ship and boat building
  • Interior and exterior joinery
  • Laboratory benches
  • Furniture making
  • Carving
  • It is a structural timber suitable for piling and marine work, and for domestic flooring
  • Plywood manufacture and sliced for wall panelling, flush doors and decorative veneering
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Description

Iroko is golden-orange to brown, lighter vessel lines are conspicuous on flat saw surfaces. The material may contain large, hard deposits of calcium carbonate in cavities, and the timber around them may be darker in colour. The grain is interlocked and sometimes irregular and the texture rather coarse, but even. The weight is 640 kg/m³ (40 lb/ft³); specific gravity .64.

Additional information

Latin Name

Chlorophora excelsa

Family Name

Moraceae

Distribution

West and East Africa.

Also know as

Mvulu (E Africa); odum (Ghana); kambala (Zaire); tule, intule (Mozambique); moreira (Angola); band (Cameroon)

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