IROKO (Milicia excelsa)
TRADE NAME
Iroko
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C.Berg
FAMILY
MORACEAE
COMMON NAMES
Semli (Sierra Leone); Semei (Sierra Leone); Rokko (Nigeria); Semli (Liberia); Semei (Liberia); Odum (Ghana); Iroko (Côte d`Ivoire); iroko (Benin); Kambala (Belgium); Molundu (Zaire); Mokongo (Zaire); Lusanga (Zaire); Kambala (Zaire); Mandji (Gabon); Abang (Gabon); Abang (Equatorial Guinea); Kambala (Congo); Abang (Cameroon); Mvuli (Uganda); Mvule (Uganda); Mvuli (Tanzania); Mvule (Tanzania); Mvuli (Kenya); Mvule (Kenya); Mvuli (Ethiopia); Mvule (Ethiopia); Tule (Mozambique); Mufala (Mozambique); Moreira (Angola); Vai; Ulundu; Uloko-mushinogbon; Ulok; Uklobce; Tule; Toumbohiro noir; Tema; Teak; Ssare; Simli; Sime; Semli; Semei; Sanga; Rokko; Roco; Rock elm; Oroko ulokoodigpe; Oroko; Olwaa; Olia; Ofryio; Oduna; Odum; Odoum; Odji; Obas tree; Ntong; Nsan; Mvule; Muvule; Mutumba; Mucoco; Muberry; Moreira; Moloundou; Mokongo; Mereira; Mbara; Mbala; Mandji; Mamangi; Lusanga; Loko; Logo asagu; Kimurumba; Kambala; Intule; Gutumba; Guh; Guele; Geh; Emang; Elui; Elua; Elowa; Corkwood; Bwagashanga; Bush teak; Bush oak; Bonzo; Bobang; Banghi; Bang; Bakana; Akede; Agui; African teak; African oak; Abang; Iroko
SCIENTIFIC NAME SYNONYMS
Morus excelsa Welw.; Chlorophora excelsa (Welw.) Benth.
DESCRIPTION OF THE TREE
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
The tree is up to 30 to 48 m tall, with diameters up to 150 cm. The commercial lengths vary from 9 to 24 m.
NATURAL HABITAT
Milicia excelsa is widespread at altitudes below 1,000 m, it grows under a variety of conditions. It is known or inferred that the harvesting of specimens from the wild for international trade has, or may have, a detrimental impact on the species by EITHE
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
It is widespread in tropical and subtropical Africa.
NON TIMBER USES
Contains some resins or extracts which could pose problems when machining or finishing.
BASIC DENSITY OR SPECIFIC GRAVITY (O.D. WEIGHT/VOL. GREEN) (G/CM³)
0.59
AIR-DRY DENSITY (WEIGHT AND VOLUME AT 12%MC) (G/CM³)
0.65
TOTAL SHRINKAGE TANGENTIAL (SATURATED TO 0%MC) (%)
5.5
TOTAL SHRINKAGE RADIAL (SATURATED TO 0%MC) (%)
3.6
RECOMMENDED DRY KILN SCHEDULE
FR-6
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY RATIO (TOTAL TANGENTIAL SHRINKAGE %/TOTAL RADIAL SHRINKAGE %)
1.5