Iroko (Milicia excelsa)

Common Name(s): IrokoScientific Name: Milicia excelsa, M. regia (syn. Chlorophora excelsa, C. regia)Distribution: Tropical AfricaTree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall, 3-5 ft (1-1.5 m) trunk diameterAverage Dried Weight: 41 lbs/ft3 (660 kg/m3)Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .55, .66Janka Hardness: 1,260 lbf (5,610 N)Modulus of Rupture: 12,700 lbf/in2 (87.6 MPa)Elastic Modulus: 1,360,000 lbf/in2 (9.38 GPa)Crushing Strength: 7,840 lbf/in2 (54.0 MPa)Shrinkage: Radial: 2.8%, Tangential: 3.8%, Volumetric: 8.8%, T/R Ratio: 1.4

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.Endgrain: Diffuse-porous; large pores in no specific arrangement; solitary and radial multiples of 2-3; tyloses common; growth rings indistinct; rays visible without lens; parenchyma banded, paratracheal parenchyma vasicentric, aliform (winged and lozenge), and confluent.Rot Resistance:Iroko is very durable, and is resistant to both rot and insect attack; it’s sometimes used as a substitute for Teak.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.Odor:No characteristic odor.Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, Iroko has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. Iroko can  also cause other health effects in sensitive individuals, such as asthma-like symptoms, boils, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.Pricing/Availability: Iroko is imported and available for a moderate price. Veneer can also be seen for sale, and is likewise affordably priced.Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation.

12+ working days