Wood description:
Iroko tree reaches 50 m on height and a diameter which exceeds 1.80 m. Trunks are usable in good lengths as they are straight and their sections are regular. Its wood has a dark straw-yellow which easily oxidizes, assuming a brown-greyish uniform tone. It can contains calcium carbonate which makes darker the surrounding wood area.
Sapwood: white-yellowish.
Heartwood: from light brown to grown-greyish.

Histological structure:
Grain: straight, sometimes irregular;
Texture: medium to coarse.

Characteristic defects:
Calcareous concentrations in trunks;
Possible irregular grain.

Permeabilty:
permeable sapwood and impermeable heartwood.

Working properties:
Sawing: easy, but with special care to the calcareous concentrations;
Drying: from medium to slow, some risk of warp and checks;
Planing: to take into consideration the silica content;
Glueing: easy but casein glues are to be avoided;
Nailing and screwing: trouble-free;
Finishing: it can be difficult due to the tannins that oppose the drying of varnishes.

Main uses:
Exterior furniture, parks and public gardens;
Interior carpentry, doors, steps, flooring and garments;
Construction, ship and boats buildings, piling and marine works.

Mechanical properties:
Tensil strength : 955 kg/cm²
Compressive strength : 540 kg/cm²

Specific weight:
green 1000 kg/m³ , dried 660 kg/ m³.