Entandrophragma cylindricum
Trade Name
Sapele
Captured from the historical species datasheet.
At a glance
Scientific nameEntandrophragma cylindricum
Trade Name
Sapele
Trade / common name—
FamilyMeliaceae
RegionAfrica
Distribution
Ranging from the Ivory Coast to the Cameroons and eastward through Zaire to Uganda (including Ghana). Occurs in evergreen, deciduous, and transitional forest formation.
Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tables, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting
Countries & Distribution
These country connections come directly from the same SQL country–species bridge used by Country Detail and the Global Navigator.
Wood images
Linked historical images associated with this species record.
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Trade Name
Sapele
Captured from the historical species datasheet.
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Trade Name
Sapele
Captured from the historical species datasheet.
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Trade Name
Sapele
Captured from the historical species datasheet.
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Trade Name
Sapele
Captured from the historical species datasheet.
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Trade Name
Sapele
Captured from the historical species datasheet.
Entandrophragma cylindricum
Trade Name
Sapele
Captured from the historical species datasheet.
Projects & Inspiration
Explore possible applications, then tell Woodley what you are interested in making.
Project images are illustrative inspiration, not species-identification photographs. Suitability should be checked against the species data and project requirements.
Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tables, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting
What would you like to make?
Tell Woodley what you have in mind. Woodley can help explore whether Entandrophragma cylindricum Trade Name Sapele is suitable and guide the next steps.
Project guidance can build on this species record, its properties and documented uses.
Appearance
Heartwood color
Historical source observations are shown separately; differences may reflect source, geography, test condition or publication.
Brown
Red
Purple
Reddish brown
Pale red to pink
Dark brown
The heartwood is pink when freshly cut, but it matures to a red-brown or purple-brown color.
Sapwood Color
Historical source observations are shown separately; differences may reflect source, geography, test condition or publication.
White
Brown
Pink
Yellow
Well defined
White to yellow
Paler than heartwood
Pinkish
Gray-pink
Cream
Luster
Historical source observations are shown separately; differences may reflect source, geography, test condition or publication.
Lustrous
Pronounced
High
Golden luster
Uses & Applications
Common Uses
Boat building (general), Boat building, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Flooring, Flooring: industrial heavy traffic, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Musical instruments, Musical instruments: piano, Office furniture, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Plywood corestock, Plywood, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Sub-flooring, Tables , Tables, Turnery, Utility furniture, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Wainscotting
Product Sources
The ITTO reports that the species is an important source of timber and is exported regularly.
Sapele is readily available as either veneer or lumber, with prices ranging from average to valuable. Specified grades of Sapele are also easier to fill. Quartered sapele yields beautiful straight stripes. Flat cut wood produces attractive cathedrals and cantilevered hearts and Sapele pommele, a wild blisterered grain pattern present in some trees. Sapele pommele is a highly popular veneer, and is used by designers for architectural interiors, table tops, and wall paneling. The best grades of Sapele are reported to feature a fine pencil stripe of uniform width.
Full Technical Species Profile
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Protected technical content includes physical and mechanical properties, working and drying characteristics, durability data, detailed technical observations, references and methodology.