Countries of origin and local name
Ivory Coast: Boto
Cameroon: Bata
Gabon: Oken, Dina
Congo countries: Kiela kusu
Brazil: Pao roxo
Habitat
Afrormosia is a rare tree species found in West and Central Africa, including the countries of Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and the Congo states. The tree grows primarily in groups.
Tree description
Afrormosia is a large tree reaching heights of 30-50 m (98-164 ft). The straight and cylindrical trunk is 60-160 cm (2-5 ft) in diameter, and is clear of branches for up to 30 m (98 ft). The scale-like bark is fibrous with strong red marks.
Wood description
The sapwood, about 3 cm (1.2 in) thick, is a lightly-colored mixture of white, green, and yellow. The core wood is greenish-brown with a silky luster and often displays greenish-red stripes. Pores may be filled with tannin, which can form calcium marks.
| DURABILITY CLASS | II |
| RAW DENSITY | 1.05 g/cm3 |
| BENDING STRENGTH | 166 N/mm2 |
| COMPRESSION strength | 90 N/mm2 |
| E-Module | 17,000 N/mm2 |
| Volume dwindle | 13.5 % |
| Radial shrinkage | 4.4 % |
| Tangential shrinkage | 6.2 % |
Property and application
Pao rosa wood is hard and heavy, with good mechanical and physical properties. It has good compression and bending strengths, and is flexible and durable. Although the wood is weather resistant, it is best suited for indoors applications. The drying process is very lengthy, the wood should be well-steamed before being veneer-processed. Pao rosa is commonly used as a veneer wood and, in the furniture industry, serves as a palissandre. To date the wood has seen little exposure in Europe and North America.
How to use it
Very Good
Flat sawn veneer
Good
Furniture, Flooring, Walls, decking, Paneling, Intarsia works, Cabinetmaking, Rotary cut veneer
Usable
Modeling
Not Good
Musical instrument, Doors, Construction wood, Staircases, Ship, rail & truck building, Weapons industry, Plywood, Window frames, Laboratory furniture & fittings, Blind veneer