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What is Afrormosia?

The Wood Guide · The wood register

Tropical hardwood · reference

Afrormosia

Sometimes called assamela, and almost always compared with teak. Golden brown, strong and naturally very durable — with a protected status you need to know about.

  • Pericopsis elata
  • CITES Appendix II
  • Tree 30–45 m
Pericopsis elata
Afrormosia (Pericopsis elata)AfrormosiaPericopsis elata
Afrormosia trunk slice: brown heartwood with a thin pale sapwood rim (Pericopsis elata)
Afrormosia trunk slice: brown heartwood with a thin pale sapwood rimPericopsis elata
Summary

Afrormosia in brief

The trade name for Pericopsis elata, family Leguminosae, from the tropical rainforest of Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic.

The tree reaches 30 to 45 metres with a trunk diameter of 80 to 160 centimetres. The trunk is usually straight and free of branches, which yields long, knot-free boards — one of the reasons the wood is so highly regarded.

The heartwood is golden brown and turns grey after exposure to light; the sapwood is pale yellowish brown and clearly distinguishable. Quarter-sawn timber shows the typical stripes, while flat-sawn timber has a flame-like figure that is particularly decorative.

Why it became teak's stand-in

When teak became scarce and expensive in the twentieth century, furniture makers and shipbuilders looked for an equivalent alternative. Afrormosia turned out to come close: similar colour, similar durability, even slightly stronger. That success is precisely why the species is under pressure today.

Botanical
Pericopsis elata (syn. Afrormosia elata)
Family
Leguminosae
Origin
Cameroon, DR Congo, Central African Republic
Tree
30 to 45 m, trunk 80 to 160 cm
Heartwood
golden brown, turning grey; sapwood pale yellowish brown
Status
CITES Appendix II — permit required

To be fair: afrormosia is listed in Appendix II of CITES. Decades of intensive logging have caused the species to decline sharply, and it may only be traded with a permit and proof of legal origin. Without paperwork you can't buy it — and even with paperwork, the question is whether this wood is a better choice than a less threatened alternative.

In pictures · afrormosia, excellent timber with protected status1 / 6
Pericopsis elata

Straight, branch-free, up to 45 metres

The tree reaches 30 to 45 metres with a trunk of 80 to 160 centimetres, usually straight and free of branches — hence the long, knot-free boards. It grows in the rainforest of Cameroon, DR Congo and the Central African Republic.

Click a chapter or use the arrows · tree and boards schematic.

Measurable

Appearance and structure

Colour

Golden-brown heartwood that turns grey after exposure to light. The sapwood is pale yellowish brown and clearly separated — the distinction between heartwood and sapwood matters here, including for durability.

Texture and grain

A slight interlocked grain with occasional irregularities. That calls for sharp tools when planing.

Figure

Quarter-sawn gives stripes, flat-sawn a flame-like figure — the latter is distinctly decorative.

Durability

The heartwood is among the most durable categories. The sapwood is not — as with almost every species.

Separating heartwood and sapwood

With afrormosia, the colour difference is large enough to tell them apart with the naked eye. If you see pale yellowish-brown edges along a board meant for outdoor use, that is sapwood — and it won't achieve the promised lifespan.

Uses

What afrormosia is used for

Use Why afrormosia Alternative without CITES
Exterior joinery Strong, durable, dimensionally stable Iroko, accoya
Furniture Golden-brown colour and flame-like figure Iroko, plantation-grown teak
Shipbuilding Strength and resistance to moisture Teak, iroko
Veneer Decorative figure Iroko, sapele
Flooring Hard and hard-wearing Jatoba, oak
Cladding Turns grey evenly Iroko, thermally modified wood
Our view

We don't work with afrormosia. For almost every use it is suitable for, there is an alternative without protected status — iroko comes closest, and accoya achieves the same durability from European softwood.

Quick answer

Frequently asked questions about afrormosia

Can afrormosia still be traded?

Only with a CITES permit and proof of legal origin. Pericopsis elata is listed in Appendix II, which allows trade but ties it to strict documentation.

Is afrormosia the same as teak?

No. It resembles teak in colour and durability and was often used in its place, but it is a different species from a different family. Teak is Tectona grandis, afrormosia is Pericopsis elata.

What is assamela?

Another trade name for the same species, used mainly in French-speaking markets. Botanically identical.

What is a good alternative?

Iroko comes closest in colour and durability, without protected status. For maximum durability without tropical forest, accoya is the choice.

More in The Wood Guide

Afrormosia in perspective

Excellent wood with a protected status — and an alternative that is almost as good.

To The Wood Guide Iroko Tropical hardwood

Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.

Pericopsis elata — Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Pericopsis elata — Valentin NVJ, CC BY 4.0

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