{"id":309,"date":"2009-01-02T17:42:00","date_gmt":"2009-01-02T23:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wood-database.com\/?p=309"},"modified":"2023-05-11T04:38:57","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T09:38:57","slug":"afrormosia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wood-database.com\/afrormosia\/","title":{"rendered":"Afrormosia"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a> > Hardwoods<\/a> > Fabaceae<\/a> > Pericopsis <\/a>> <\/strong>elata\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\"\"<\/a>
Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Common Name(s):<\/strong><\/a> Afrormosia, afromosia, African teak<\/p>

Scientific Name:<\/strong><\/a> Pericopsis elata<\/i><\/p>

Distribution:<\/strong><\/a> West Africa<\/p>

Tree Size:<\/strong><\/a> 100-150 ft (30-46 m)<\/span> tall,<\/p>

                     3-5 ft (1-1.5 m)<\/span> trunk diameter<\/p>

Average Dried Weight:<\/strong><\/a> 45.3 lbs\/ft3<\/sup> (725 kg\/m3<\/sup>)<\/span><\/p>

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC)<\/strong><\/a>:<\/span> 0.57, 0.72<\/p>

Janka Hardness<\/strong><\/a>:<\/span> 1,570 lbf<\/sub> (6,980 N)<\/span><\/p>

Modulus of Rupture<\/strong><\/a>:<\/span> 14,920 lbf<\/sub>\/in2<\/sup> (100.9 MPa)<\/span><\/p>

Elastic Modulus<\/strong><\/a>:<\/span> 1,715,000 lbf<\/sub>\/in2<\/sup> (11.83 GPa)<\/span><\/p>

Crushing Strength<\/strong><\/a>:<\/span> 9,570 lbf<\/sub>\/in2<\/sup> (66 MPa)<\/span><\/p>

Shrinkage<\/strong><\/a>:<\/span> Radial: 3.2%, Tangential: 6.2%,<\/p>

                          Volumetric: 9.9%, T\/R Ratio: 1.9<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i> More images<\/strong><\/a> | <\/i> Identification<\/strong><\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Color\/Appearance:<\/strong><\/a> Heartwood is yellowish brown, occasionally with a reddish or olive-colored hue, darkening with age. Narrow sapwood is pale yellow and is clearly differentiated from the heartwood.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Grain\/Texture:<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Grain is usually straight, though it can be interlocked. With a fine, uniform texture and good natural luster.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Rot Resistance:<\/a> <\/strong>Rated as very durable, with good insect\/borer resistance.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Workability:<\/strong><\/a> In nearly all regards, afrormosia is easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though surfacing boards with interlocking grain may cause tearout. Other downsides include a slight blunting effect on cutting edges, and the development of dark stains if left in contact with iron in damp conditions. Afrormosia turns, glues, stains, and finishes well.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Odor:<\/a> <\/strong>Afrormosia has a distinct odor while being worked.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Allergies\/Toxicity:<\/strong><\/a> Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, afrormosia has been reported as a sensitizer<\/a>. Usually most common reactions include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. Afrormosia has also been known to cause nervous system effects, asthma-like symptoms, as well as splinters having an increased chance of getting infected. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity<\/a> and Wood Dust Safety<\/a> for more information.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Pricing\/Availability:<\/strong><\/a> Trade of this species is currently regulated and tightly controlled\u2014though still available as lumber in good sizes. Prices are medium to high for an imported hardwood.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Sustainability:<\/strong><\/a> This wood species is in CITES Appendix II, and is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as endangered due to a population reduction of over 50% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Common Uses:<\/strong><\/span> Boatbuilding, veneer, flooring, and furniture.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Comments:<\/strong><\/span> Along with iroko (Milicia excelsa)<\/em><\/a>, afrormosia is sometimes referred to as African teak, though neither are closely related to genuine teak (Tectona grandis)<\/a>. Compared to teak, afrormosia has similar weight and strength, nearly comparable rot resistance, and a similar appearance (though some pieces can be a yellower golden brown and more closely resemble satinwood<\/a>, especially when freshly sawed). However, though afrormosia is a lower-cost alternative to genuine teak, it is in itself threatened and is CITES protected.<\/p>

Another closely related species, Pericopsis laxiflora,<\/em> is a much smaller tree not protected under CITES. It yields similar lumber, though it has little commercial potential due to its small size.<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t