What is Afrormosia?
The Wood Guide · The wood register
Tropical hardwood · referenceAfrormosia
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
AfrormosiaPericopsis elata
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |
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.
Afrormosia in perspective
Excellent wood with a protected status — and an alternative that is almost as good.
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Pericopsis elata — Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo via Wikimedia Commons: Pericopsis elata — Valentin NVJ, CC BY 4.0