Afzelia, Snakeskin

(Afzelia africana)

Africa

The genus Afzelia is reported to occur both in Africa and in Southeast Asia. But the name afzelia will usually refers to the African variety. Afzelia species are used primarily for wood, though some species also have medicinal uses. The timber is either traded under the collective name "afzelia", or under names particular to a species. One of the common names is "pod mahogany", adding to the confusion surrounding the name mahogany. Afzelia is commonly referred to as Doussie (Cameroons), Apa, Aligna (Nigeria), Mkora, Mkola, Mbambakofi (Tanzania), Chanfuta, Mussacossa (Mozambique), Beyo, Meli, Azza (Uganda) and Pod Mahogany.

The heartwood is reddish brown after exposure and the sapwood is pale straw to whitish and well defined. The texture is moderate to coarse with an interlocked grain. The snakeskin look is caused by curling of the wood fiber during the growing process. This curlying is also called fiddleback grain.