Okoume | The Wood Database (Hardwood) (original) (raw)

Okoume (Aucoumea klaineana)

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.

Do you have images of projects made from this wood species? You can submit them to me here.

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.