Milicia spp.

Specifications

Family

Moraceae

Species

Milicia spp. (Welw.) C.C. Berg

Common name

Milicia spp.
Commonly known as

Description

It is one of Africa's most prized woods. It appears clearly differentiated, with a yellowish or whitish sapwood and a greenish-yellow heartwood when fresh, but turning yellow-brown or even chocolate brown after drying, sometimes variegated with darker, greasy streaks. The texture ranges from medium to coarse, and the grain is quite varied. Stoney concretions may be found within the tissues. The density at normal moisture content ranges from 0.56 to 0.75. The presence of concretions can cause problems during sawing. Drying is slow but fairly easy and even, with modest shrinkage. Nailing or screwing is fairly successful, while gluing, varnishing, and painting are hindered by the presence of antioxidant substances in the tissues. Mechanical strength is good to high, with good durability and resistance to alterations in humid environments. Wood and sawdust can cause dermatitis, nose and throat irritation, and asthmatic reactions due to the presence of the phenol chlorophorin.

Plant morphology

Large deciduous trees with a broad, flat crown, they can grow up to 50 meters tall and 350 cm in diameter. The straight trunk has short buttresses and is often branchless for the first 20 meters.

Natural occurrence

Countries of origin and distribution

Tropical West Africa, from Guinea-Bissau east to Ethiopia; also present in Southern Africa as far as Angola, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique.

Habitat and ecology

In the wild, it grows in deciduous, semi-deciduous, or evergreen forests, whether primary or secondary, with an apparent preference for drier forest types, at altitudes up to 1,200 meters. It is often found in gallery forests and forest islands, or as isolated trees in savannah regions. Cultivation is typically carried out in humid and wet tropical areas at low and medium altitudes, from sea level to about 1,600 meters.

Uses

Use class

CU1

CU2

CU3

CU4

CU5

Application areas

Used for veneers, flooring, furniture, cabinetry and turned objects.

Threats and Conservation

Threats

Unsustainable timber harvesting and habitat loss.

Conservation measures

Species also reported in some protected areas in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Ghana and in 3 ex situ collections (BGCI 2020).

IUCN Red List IUCN

Milicia excelsa NT - Near Threatened (1998); Milicia regia VU - Vulnerable (2020)

CITES. Year of assessment CITES

1998

1975

2050

CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento

1998

Not present.

Technical data

Aesthetic characteristics

Grain

Obvious

Texture

Coarse

Physical and mechanical properties

Density
ρ

640 kg/m³

Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.

MPa

Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.

MPa

Bending strength
M.O.R.

87 MPa

Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.

12840 MPa

Durability characteristics

Fungal resistance

Durable

Insect resistance

Resistant

Miscellaneous

From a commercial standpoint, the most important species are: Milicia excelsa (Welw.) C.C.Berg and M. regia (A.Chev.) C.C.Berg. Given their conservation status in the wild, the use of iroko wood should be avoided. In many parts of Africa, it is considered a sacred tree and is often protected when it grows near homes and in cultivated fields. The ripe fruits are edible, and almost all of the plant's products (leaves, roots, bark, latex) are widely used in traditional African medicine.