Sapele Mahogany (Entandrophragma cylindricum)

 

Family - Meliaceae

 

Distribution - West Africa from the Ivory Coast through Ghana and Nigeria to the Cameroons and eastwards to Uganda and Tanzania.

 

Other Names: Entandrophragma rufum / tomentosa, Aboudikro, Acajou sapelle, Assi, Assie sapelli, Atore, Bibitu, Botsife, Bubussu, Dilolo, Gold Coast cedar, Kwabohoro, Liboyo, Libuyu, Lifaki, Lifari, Lifuti, Lotue, M'boyo, Miovu, Muyovu, Odupon, Oweru, Penkua, Penkwa, Sapeli, Sapelli, Scented mahogany, Tshimaye noir, Ubilesan, Undianuno.

 

Characteristics: The sapwood is pale yellow or whitish, the heartwood pinkish when cut, darkening to Reddish-brown. Sapele is characterized by a marked and regular stripe, particularly on quarter-sawn surfaces. It is fairly close textured and the grain is interlocked. It is harder and heavier than African mahogany, weighing about 640 Kg / M3 when dried.

 

Working qualities: Works well with both hand and machine tools, but interlocked grain can be troublesome when planing. It takes screws and nails well, glues satisfactorily, stains well and takes an excellent polish.

 

Uses: Construction and decorative veneer, furniture, cabinet-making, shop fitting, boat building, panelling and joinery.