Common Name(s): Iroko, African teak
Scientific Name: Milicia excelsa and M. regia (formerly placed in the Chlorophora genus, see comments below)
Distribution: Tropical Africa
Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 660 kg/m3 MC 12%
Shrinkage: Radial: 3.3%, Tangential: 4.8%, Volumetric: 8.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.5
Color/Appearance: Heartwood is usually a yellow to golden or medium brown, with color tending to darken over time. Pale yellow sapwood is clearly demarcated from the heartwood.
Grain/Texture: Iroko has a medium to coarse texture, with open pores and an interlocked grain.
Rot Resistance: Iroko is very durable, and is resistant to both rot and insect attack; it’s sometimes used as a substitute for genuine teak (Tectona grandis).
Workability: Generally easy to work, with the exception of its interlocked grain, which may cause some tearout during surfacing operations. Also, deposits of calcium carbonate are sometimes present, which can have a significant dulling effect on cutters. Iroko glues and finishes well.
Common Uses: Veneer, flooring, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, turned items, and other small specialty wood items.
Comments: Although the Milicia genus was first described back in 1909, for many decades iroko was placed in the Chlorophora genus, along with osage orange (as C. pomifera) and fustic (as C. tinctoria) —though these species are now placed in the Maclura genus. However, the Milicia genus was reinstated back in 1982,[2] with two recognized species (M. excelsa and M. regia). Both Milicia species are sold commercially as iroko, though M. excelsa is much more widespread and common throughout tropical Africa, with M. regia being restricted to a narrower region of forest areas within West Africa.
Iroko is sometimes marketed as a low-cost alternative to genuine teak, and is even sold under the name African teak, though that common name is much more commonly applied to afrormosia (Pericopsis elata)—but neither of these woods are botanically related to true teak. Nonetheless, the wood is stable, durable, and has an overall look that somewhat resembles teak.
Our stock
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Square edged Iroko - Kiln dried
Qualities
FAS
Thickness in mm
27 / 40 / 52 / 65 / 80
Widths in mm
Random of fixed widths
Impressions
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Square edged Iroko - KD. Click on the picture to enlarge (Homé Hout 2024)
