DATA SOURCE(S): 1,2,5,14
Common Name(s): Okoume, gabon
Scientific Name: Aucoumea klaineana
Distribution: Central Africa (primarily Gabon)
Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall,
3-6 ft (1-1.8 m) trunk diameter
Average Dried Weight: 27 lbs/ft3 (430 kg/m3)
Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.35, 0.43
Janka Hardness: 400 lbf (1,790 N)
Modulus of Rupture: 10,870 lbf/in2 (75 MPa)
Elastic Modulus: 1,228,000 lbf/in2 (8.47 GPa)
Crushing Strength: 5,250 lbf/in2 (36.2 MPa)
Shrinkage: Radial: 4.6%, Tangential: 7.1%,
Volumetric: 12.2%, T/R Ratio: 1.5
Color/Appearance: Heartwood ranges from a pale pink to light brown. Color darkens with age. Narrow heartwood is grayish white, not clearly demarcated from heartwood. The grain patterns can bear a resemblance to mahogany, and one of okoume’s lesser-used commercial names is Gaboon mahogany, though it bears no relation to either African mahogany (Khaya spp.) or the New World Swietenia species.
Grain/Texture: Grain is straight to wavy or slightly interlocked. Texture is medium, with good natural luster.
Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable; poor insect resistance.
Workability: High silica content has a pronounced blunting effect on cutters. Planing and shaping may produce tearout or fuzzy surfaces. Glues and finishes well.
Odor: No characteristic odor.
Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, okoume has been reported to cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation, as well as other effects such as asthma-like symptoms, coughing, and conjunctivitis (pink eye). These hazards are especially pertinent as okoume is often processed locally in workplaces with minimal safety standards.[1]Comlan, P., Ezinah, F., Wezet, G. N., Anyunzoghe, E. S., & Ossoubita, B. O. (2007). Occupational health and safety problems among workers in wood processing enterprises of Libreville, Gabon. … Continue reading See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.
Pricing/Availability: Most commonly sold as veneer and/or plywood, okoume should be moderately priced for an imported hardwood, though highly figured pieces of veneer or solid wood are much more expensive.
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.
Common Uses: Veneer, plywood, boatbuilding, musical instruments, furniture, and interior millwork.
Comments: Sometimes simply called gabon or gaboon (not to be confused with Gaboon ebony), the wood is commercially important in the country of Gabon, where it’s the principle timber species.[2]Collomb, J. G. (2000). A first look at logging in Gabon. World Resources Institute.[3]Guidosse, Q., Du Jardin, P., White, L., Lassois, L., & Doucet, J. L. (2022). Gabon’s green gold: a bibliographical review of thirty years of research on okoumé (Aucoumea klaineana … Continue reading Even though it’s used almost exclusively in veneer form in North America, exports of both veneer and solid lumber are much more common in Asia and Europe.
Images: Drag the slider up/down to toggle between raw and finished wood.
Identification: See the article on Hardwood Anatomy for definitions of endgrain features.
Porosity: diffuse porous
Arrangement: solitary and radial multiples
Vessels: large to very large, few to very few; tyloses occasionally present
Parenchyma: generally not visible, even with hand lens
Rays: narrow width; normal spacing; storied rays present
Lookalikes/Substitutes: Okoume can bear a close resemblance to true mahogany (Swietenia spp.) and mahogany-like woods, and given it’s natural range in Central Africa, it’s most likely to get confused with Khaya ivorensis, a similarly lightweight species with partially overlapping distribution. Generally, Khaya species will be 25-50% heavier (depending on species and growing conditions), as well as feature wider and more prominent rays.
Notes: None.
The Aucoumea genus contains only one species, A. klaineana, represented on this page as okoume.
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References
| ↑1 | Comlan, P., Ezinah, F., Wezet, G. N., Anyunzoghe, E. S., & Ossoubita, B. O. (2007). Occupational health and safety problems among workers in wood processing enterprises of Libreville, Gabon. African Newsletter, 17(2), 44-46. |
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| ↑2 | Collomb, J. G. (2000). A first look at logging in Gabon. World Resources Institute. |
| ↑3 | Guidosse, Q., Du Jardin, P., White, L., Lassois, L., & Doucet, J. L. (2022). Gabon’s green gold: a bibliographical review of thirty years of research on okoumé (Aucoumea klaineana Pierre). Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement, 26(1). |
Great wood for carving. Impossible to plane using standard 30° bevel angle, I managed using a 50° bevel. Due to it’s soft nature you’re able to flatten a board just merely with a sander, belt sander would be over kill.
Turned a bowl with alternating okoume and walnut. I was very well pleased with the result. Okoume did have a wavy appearance when finished with a friction polish.
This is my woodturning project, shisha mouthpiece – Okoume with resin.
Id say the odor is pretty strong, even if its not being worked. Is is sweet, very distinctive smell.