TRADE NAME

KOSIPO

 

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Entandrophragma candollei Harms

 

FAMILY

Meliaceae

 

 

REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION

West Africa – Central Africa

Ivory Coast : KOSIPO
Ghana : PENKWA – AKOWAA
Nigeria : OMU, HEAVY SAPELLE
Cameroon : ATOM-ASSIE
Zaire : IMPOMPO
Angola : LIFUCO
W. Germany : KOSIPO – MAHOGANI
Great-Britain : OMU

Pr. = REGUL. Ex. = FREQ.

 

 

SAPWOOD

Clearly demarcated ; whitish to pale brown (5-7.5 cm)

 

HEARTWOOD

  • Colour : Brown to dark purple brown
  • Grain : Slightly interlocked
  • Texture : Medium to coarse
  • Silver figure : Fine
  • Stripe figure : Wrinkly grain, but less frequent than SAPELLI

 

 

TECHNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

  • Green weight (kg/m3) = 850 – 950
  • Specific gravity at 12% M.C. (kg/m3) MV12 = (medium) 690
  • Volumetric swelling for 1% MC variation V% = (medium) 0.42
  • Total tangential swelling T% = 7.1
  • Total radial swelling R% = 5.0
  • Crushing strength (N/mm2) C12 = 53
  • Static bending strength (N/mm2) F12 = 122
  • Modulus of elasticity (N/mm2) E12 = 9000

 

 

END USE

  • Interior and exterior joinery
  • Interior fittings
  • High-class furniture
  • Sliced veneers for decoration and cabinet work
  • Boat building (interior fittings)

 

 

REMARKS

  • Natural durability : Moderate
  • Lyctus susceptibility : No
  • Preservative treatment : Resistant
  • Other remarks :
    – A SAPELLI substitute