Color/Appearance : Heartwood is light yellowish or reddish brown. Contrasting sapwood may be up to six inches (15 cm) wide and is light gray to pale yellow. Quartersawn surfaces display a ribbon-stripe figure.

Grain/Texture : Grain is typically interlocked. With a uniform coarse texture and moderate natural luster.

Rot Resistance : Rated as moderately durable, with moderate/mixed resistance to termites and borers.

Workability : Easy to work with both hand and machine tools, though the wood has a tendency to blunt cutting edges. Tearout may occur when machining quartersawn pieces due to its interlocked grain. Dahoma will also react when put into direct contact with iron in damp conditions, becoming discolored and stained. Turns, glues, and finishes well.

Odor : Has an unpleasant, ammonia-like odor when freshly cut. Dry wood is odorless, though re-wetting the wood may bring out the odor again.

Allergies/Toxicity : Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, dahoma has been reported as a sensitizer. Can cause eye, skin, and throat irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability : Seldom if ever available in North America, dahoma is more commonly exported to Europe, though not extensively so. Expect prices to be moderate when compared to other imported lumber.

Sustainability :This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern.

Common Uses : Heavy construction, boatbuilding, docks, flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and turned objects.

Comments : Usage between the two common names (dahoma and dabema) is split about 50/50 in English speaking countries. It’s sometimes also referred to as African greenheart, not to be confused with the much more common South American species, greenheart.