Afzaleia (Afzelia xybcarpa)

Tropical Africa

		Scientific Name:	Afzaleia Africana
		Common Name:	Afzaleia
		Other Names:	Pod Mahogany

Availability:

4/4 & 8/4 Lumber

Afzaleia is a coarse alternative to Mahogany. It is relatively course in texture, and not easy to use as it can dull tool edges quickly and has some interlocking grain. It has very open pores, and however diligently you sand, more will appear, so the surface needs to be filled for a traditional perfectly smooth finish. There is little grain patterning, but its real strength is its similarity to Mahogany.

Native to tropical Asia; wood is much sought after, and due to high levels of exploitation and habitat loss, large trees are scarce, and tree is listed as an endangered species. Hard, dense, fine-grained wood; is highly valuable and used for many purposes, including high quality furniture, house construction, musical instruments and carving; bark is used for tanning hides; and young seed cotyledons are edible; tree is nitrogen fixing and suitable for agro forestry and soil improvement; is prized throughout Asia.

Common Uses

· Interior furniture

· General joinery

· Interior trim

Strengths

· Very stable

· Color of the best Mahogany