Iroko
Latin name: Chlorophora excelsa, Chlorophora regia
Also known as: odum (Ghana and Ivory Coast), mvule (East Africa), kambala (Zaire), bang (Cameroons), moreira (Angola), tule, intule (Mozambique)
Wood Type:
Hardwood
Durability:
Durable
Treatability:
Extremely difficult
Moisture Movement:
Small
Density (mean, Kg/m³):
660
Texture:
Medium
Availability:
Available at specialist timber merchant
Price:
Medium
Chemical Properties:
Occasional deposits of stone may occur
Use(s):
Joinery - Exterior, Joinery - Interior, Cladding, Decking
Colour(s):
Yellow brown

Introduction
Formerly known as Milicia excelsa Benth. and Hook f., and Milicia regia A. Chev.
Environmental
Listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as LR – Lower Risk (near threatened): close to being classed as Vulnerable. Also meets CITES Appendix II criteria. [Information courtesy of Timbmet Ltd]
Distribution
C. excelsa has a wide distribution in tropical Africa, from Sierra Leone in the west, to Tanzania in the east. C. regia is confined to West Africa, where it occurs from Senegal to Ghana. There does not appear to be any significant difference between the timber of the two species.
The tree
C. excelsa attains very large sizes, reaching 45m or more in height and up to 2.7m in diameter. The stem is usually cylindrical and mostly without buttresses. It occurs in the rain, and mixed deciduous forests.
The timber
When freshly cut, or when unexposed to light, the heartwood is a distinct yellow colour, but on exposure to light it quickly becomes golden-brown. The sapwood is narrow, being about 50mm to 75mm wide, and clearly defined. The grain is usually interlocked and the texture is rather coarse but even, and the wood weighs on average 660 kg/m³ when dried. Large, hard deposits of calcium carbonate called 'stone' deposits, are sometimes present in cavities, probably as a result of injury to the tree. They are often enclosed by the wood and not visible until the time of sawing, though the wood around them may be darker in colour, thus giving an indication of their presence.
Drying
The timber dries well and fairly rapidly, with only a slight tendency to distortion and splitting.
Strength
Iroko has excellent strength properties, comparing well with teak, though weaker in bending and in compression along the grain.
Working qualities
Medium to difficult - Iroko works fairly well with most tools, though with some dulling effect on their cutting edges, especially when calcareous deposits are prevalent. On quarter-sawn stock, there is a tendency for grain to pick up due to interlocked grain, and a reduction of cutting angle to 15° is usually necessary to obtain a smooth surface. An excellent finish can be obtained if the grain is filled. It takes nails and screws well, and can be glued satisfactorily.
Suppliers |
|
---|---|
A C Timber Solutions Ltd
Ely |
|
Abbey Woods
Dublin 13 |
|
Border Hardwood Ltd
Wem |
|
Brooks Bros (UK) Limited
Maldon |
|
Capricorn Eco Timber
Stafford |
|
Chadwicks (Mowbray Drive) Limited
Blackpool |
|
Champion, A W Limited
New Malden |
|
Cranwood Industries
Warrenpoint |
|
E O Burton & Co Limited
Brentwood |
|
E. y F. Gamiz
Sta. Cruz De Campezo (Alava) |
|
Enfield Speciality Doors
Enfield |
|
Gilmour & Aitken
Alexandria |
|
Gripdeck
Colchester |
|
International Timber
Manchester |
|
iWood Timber Ltd
Stafford |
|
James Latham plc
Hemel Hempstead |
|
Mid-Sussex Timber Co Limited
Forest Row |
|
Millworks Timber Specialists
Bottisham |
|
Morgan Timber
Rochester |
|
NHG Timber Limited
Croydon |
|
Ramsay Timber Limited
Wigan |
|
Siero Lam SA
Arguelles |
|
Silva Timber Products Limited
Widnes |
|
Timber Focus
Manchester |
|
Timbersource Limited
Waterlip |
|
Timbmet
Stanford in the Vale |
|
W. L. West & Sons Ltd
Petworth |
|
Watford Timber Co Limited
Watford |
|
Suppliers |
|
---|---|
Watford Timber Co Limited
Watford |
|
W. L. West & Sons Ltd
Petworth |
|
Timbmet
Stanford in the Vale |
|
Timbersource Limited
Waterlip |
|
Timber Focus
Manchester |
|
Silva Timber Products Limited
Widnes |
|
Siero Lam SA
Arguelles |
|
Ramsay Timber Limited
Wigan |
|
NHG Timber Limited
Croydon |
|
Morgan Timber
Rochester |
|
Millworks Timber Specialists
Bottisham |
|
Mid-Sussex Timber Co Limited
Forest Row |
|
James Latham plc
Hemel Hempstead |
|
iWood Timber Ltd
Stafford |
|
International Timber
Manchester |
|
Gripdeck
Colchester |
|
Gilmour & Aitken
Alexandria |
|
Enfield Speciality Doors
Enfield |
|
E. y F. Gamiz
Sta. Cruz De Campezo (Alava) |
|
E O Burton & Co Limited
Brentwood |
|
Cranwood Industries
Warrenpoint |
|
Champion, A W Limited
New Malden |
|
Chadwicks (Mowbray Drive) Limited
Blackpool |
|
Capricorn Eco Timber
Stafford |
|
Brooks Bros (UK) Limited
Maldon |
|
Border Hardwood Ltd
Wem |
|
Abbey Woods
Dublin 13 |
|
A C Timber Solutions Ltd
Ely |
|