Iroko

Name	Iroko (Clorophora excelsa)
Type	Hardwood.
Other Names	Also known as kambala, mvule, odum, intule, and tule.
Sources	Grows in southern half of Africa.
Appearance	Interlocked grain and moderately coarse texture. Light to dark brown heartwood demarcated from paler brown sapwood. Often has hard deposits of calcium carbonate embedded in grain.
Physical Props	Medium hardness, weight, bending and crushing strength, very low stiffness and shock resistance, moderate steam bending, high decay resistance (heartwood), and good stability.
Working Props	Works well in general but boards with "stone" deposits have abrasive effect on cutting edges. Good gluing, nailing and screwing properties. Polishes to a high finish but filling typically required.
Uses	Often used as a substitute for teak and valued for upper-scale interior/exterior joinery, counter and table tops, carving, and turnery. Also used for window frames, sills, doors, ship building, cabinets, garden and park benches, plywood and veneer.