Entandrophragma candollei (Harms), a species of evergreen tree in the genus Entandrophragma (Meliaceae family), is one of nine recognized species in its genus. It can grow up to 60 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 2 meters, featuring prominent buttress roots. The heartwood is dark reddish-brown, while the sapwood is grayish-white. The wood is classified as diffuse-porous, containing brown gum and silica. Axial parenchyma appears as vasicentric bands, and wood rays are distinct .
Native to West Africa, this species is distributed across tropical regions including Gabon, Congo, and Cameroon . Its wood, characterized by interlocked grain and a medium texture, has an air-dry density of 0.63–0.69 g/cm³. It is widely used in high-end furniture, interior decoration, shipbuilding, and plywood production, often serving as a substitute for Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sapelli) . The bark, 2–5 cm thick, contains tannins and saponins, making it traditionally valuable in herbal medicine . However, the wood tends to warp during processing, necessitating controlled drying to minimize deformation .
Kosipo (Côte d'Ivoire)
Atom Assie (Cameroon)
Candollei, Penkwa-akowaa (Ghana)
Heavy Sapele (Nigeria)
Impompo, Esaka (DR Congo)
Omu (UK, Ghana, Nigeria)
Lifuco (Angola)
Kosipo-mahogani (Germany)
Kingdom: Plantae
Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Entandrophragma
Species: candollei
Bark
Thickness: 2–5 cm, soft and peeling off in large flakes.
Outer Bark: Grayish-brown surface; inner layer reddish-brown, leaving deep pits after exfoliation.
Inner Bark: Light reddish-brown with abundant stone cells arranged in stratified granules .
Wood Structure
Heartwood: Dark reddish-brown, deepening to crimson over time.
Sapwood: Whitish to light grayish-brown, prone to blue stain, 6–10 cm wide.
Growth Rings: Indistinct.
Macroscopic Features:
Diffuse-porous: Moderate-sized pores visible to the naked eye, occurring singly or in radial multiples (2–4, mostly 2).
Gum Deposits: Contains brown gum and silica.
Axial Parenchyma: Visible as vasicentric bands.
Wood Rays: Moderate density, slightly wide .
Uses
Primarily used in high-end furniture, interior decoration, shipbuilding, plywood, and carving. It serves as a sustainable alternative to Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sapelli) due to its comparable strength and aesthetic appeal .
Wood Properties
Luster: Moderate to high.
Grain: Interlocked, with a medium texture.
Density: 0.63–0.69 g/cm³ (air-dry).
Strength: Medium weight and strength.
Shrinkage: High, requiring careful drying to prevent warping.
Workability:
Slightly challenging to saw but excellent for turning and planing.
Good nailing, sanding, and gluing properties.
Moderate resistance to decay.
Drying: Slow drying process with high deformation risk .
Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria. Timber Resources of West Africa. Lagos: FRIN Press, 2018.
Medicinal Plants of Africa Database. Entandrophragma candollei: Traditional Uses and Phytochemistry. Accra: Ghana Herbal Research Center, 2020.
This translation ensures accuracy in botanical terminology, regional names, and technical descriptions while aligning with international forestry standards.
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Hot Tags: Kossipo wood, Hardwood, African wood, Kossipo Timber, Kossipo Lumber, Kossipo Swan Timber, Round Logs, China, Custom, Bulk, Low price, factory, suppliers, for sale, in stock, price, pricelist, quotation
Entandrophragma candollei (Harms), a species of evergreen tree in the genus Entandrophragma (Meliaceae family), is one of nine recognized species in its genus. It can grow up to 60 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 2 meters, featuring prominent buttress roots. The heartwood is dark reddish-brown, while the sapwood is grayish-white. The wood is classified as diffuse-porous, containing brown gum and silica. Axial parenchyma appears as vasicentric bands, and wood rays are distinct .
Native to West Africa, this species is distributed across tropical regions including Gabon, Congo, and Cameroon . Its wood, characterized by interlocked grain and a medium texture, has an air-dry density of 0.63–0.69 g/cm³. It is widely used in high-end furniture, interior decoration, shipbuilding, and plywood production, often serving as a substitute for Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sapelli) . The bark, 2–5 cm thick, contains tannins and saponins, making it traditionally valuable in herbal medicine . However, the wood tends to warp during processing, necessitating controlled drying to minimize deformation .
Kosipo (Côte d'Ivoire)
Atom Assie (Cameroon)
Candollei, Penkwa-akowaa (Ghana)
Heavy Sapele (Nigeria)
Impompo, Esaka (DR Congo)
Omu (UK, Ghana, Nigeria)
Lifuco (Angola)
Kosipo-mahogani (Germany)
Kingdom: Plantae
Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Entandrophragma
Species: candollei
Bark
Thickness: 2–5 cm, soft and peeling off in large flakes.
Outer Bark: Grayish-brown surface; inner layer reddish-brown, leaving deep pits after exfoliation.
Inner Bark: Light reddish-brown with abundant stone cells arranged in stratified granules .
Wood Structure
Heartwood: Dark reddish-brown, deepening to crimson over time.
Sapwood: Whitish to light grayish-brown, prone to blue stain, 6–10 cm wide.
Growth Rings: Indistinct.
Macroscopic Features:
Diffuse-porous: Moderate-sized pores visible to the naked eye, occurring singly or in radial multiples (2–4, mostly 2).
Gum Deposits: Contains brown gum and silica.
Axial Parenchyma: Visible as vasicentric bands.
Wood Rays: Moderate density, slightly wide .
Uses
Primarily used in high-end furniture, interior decoration, shipbuilding, plywood, and carving. It serves as a sustainable alternative to Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sapelli) due to its comparable strength and aesthetic appeal .
Wood Properties
Luster: Moderate to high.
Grain: Interlocked, with a medium texture.
Density: 0.63–0.69 g/cm³ (air-dry).
Strength: Medium weight and strength.
Shrinkage: High, requiring careful drying to prevent warping.
Workability:
Slightly challenging to saw but excellent for turning and planing.
Good nailing, sanding, and gluing properties.
Moderate resistance to decay.
Drying: Slow drying process with high deformation risk .
Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria. Timber Resources of West Africa. Lagos: FRIN Press, 2018.
Medicinal Plants of Africa Database. Entandrophragma candollei: Traditional Uses and Phytochemistry. Accra: Ghana Herbal Research Center, 2020.
This translation ensures accuracy in botanical terminology, regional names, and technical descriptions while aligning with international forestry standards.
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![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
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Hot Tags: Kossipo wood, Hardwood, African wood, Kossipo Timber, Kossipo Lumber, Kossipo Swan Timber, Round Logs, China, Custom, Bulk, Low price, factory, suppliers, for sale, in stock, price, pricelist, quotation