Color/Appearance : Heartwood is usually a yellow to golden or medium brown, with color tending to darken over time. Pale yellow sapwood is clearly demarcated from the heartwood.

Grain/Texture : Iroko has a medium to coarse texture, with open pores and an interlocked grain.

Rot Resistance : Iroko is very durable, and is resistant to both rot and insect attack; it’s sometimes used as a substitute for genuine teak (Tectona grandis).

Workability : Generally easy to work, with the exception of its interlocked grain, which may cause some tearout during surfacing operations. Also, deposits of calcium carbonate are sometimes present, which can have a significant dulling effect on cutters. Iroko glues and finishes well.

Odor : No characteristic odor.

Allergies/Toxicity : Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, iroko has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. Iroko can also cause other health effects in sensitive individuals, such as asthma-like symptoms, boils, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability : Iroko is imported and available for a moderate price. Veneer can also be seen for sale, and is likewise affordably priced.

Sustainability : This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. While Milicia excelsa is only listed as near threatened, M. regia is listed as vulnerable due to a population reduction of over 20% in the past three generations, caused by a decline in its natural range, and exploitation.

Common Uses : Veneer, flooring, furniture, cabinetry, boatbuilding, turned items, and other small specialty wood items.

Comments : Although the Milicia genus was first described back in 1909,[1] for many decades iroko was placed in the Chlorophora genus, along with osage orange (as C. pomifera) and fustic (as C. tinctoria) —though these species are now placed in the Maclura genus. However, the Milicia genus was reinstated back in 1982,[2] with two recognized species (M. excelsa and M. regia). Both Milicia species are sold commercially as iroko, though M. excelsa is much more widespread and common throughout tropical Africa, with M. regia being restricted to a narrower region of forest areas within West Africa.