TRADE NAME

IROKO (KAMBALA)

 

SCIENTIFIC NAME

  • Chlorophora excelsa Benth. & Hook f.
  • Chlorophora regia A. Chev.

 

FAMILY

Moraceae

 

 

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION

West Africa* – Central Africa – East Africa

Sierra Leone : SEMLI
Liberia : SEMLI
Ivory Coast : IROKO
Ghana : ODUM
Nigeria : ROKKO
Cameroon : ABANG
Gabon : ABANG, MANDJI
Congo-Zaire : KAMBALA
Zaire : LUSANGA, MOLUNDU, MOKONGO
Angola : MOREIRA
Mozambique : TULE MUFALA
East Africa : MVULI, MVULE
Belgique : KAMBALA

Pr. = REGUL. Ex. = REGUL. (From Ivory Coast forbidden in logs)
*C. regia : exclusively in W. Africa

 

 

SAPWOOD

Demarcated, yellowish white, 5 to 7.5 cm

 

HEARTWOOD

  • Colour : Yellow brown to dark brown (very variable)
  • Grain : Slightly interlocked
  • Texture : Medium to coarse
  • Silver figure : Fine

 

 

TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

  • Green weight (kg/m3) = 1000 – 1100
  • Specific gravity at 12% M.C. (kg/m3) MV12 = (medium) 650
  • Volumetric swelling for 1% MC variation V% = (medium) 0.44
  • Total tangential swelling T% = 5.5
  • Total radial swelling R% = 3.5
  • Crushing strength (N/mm2) C12 = 57
  • Static bending strength (N/mm2) F12 = 118
  • Modulus of elasticity (N/mm2) E12 = 9900

 

 

END USE

  • Interior and exterior joinery
  • Interior fittings
  • Decorative sliced veneers
  • High-class furniture
  • Stairs – house framing
  • Domestic floorings
  • Boat building (decking)
  • Vats
  • Turnery

 

 

REMARKS

  • Natural durability : Very durable
  • Lyctus susceptibility : No
  • Preservative treatment : Resistant
  • Sapwood very susceptible to insect attacks. Usually sapwood is removed before shipping.
  • Other remarks :
    – Good substitute to Teak.
    – Heartwood colour very variable : Light IROKO is in greater demand for flooring.
    – For export as logs, sapwood is usually removed (Zaire for example).