Milletia laurentii
Specifications
Family
Fabaceae
Species
Milletia laurentii De Wild.
Description
A very dark chocolate-black wood with black streaks, it is very heavy, hard, and dense. These characteristics make it very durable, but difficult to work.
Plant morphology
Medium-sized evergreen tree, reaching 18 m in height and 1 metre in diameter.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Equatorial Central Africa: Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique.
Habitat and ecology
It prefers open semi-deciduous or dense forests, but is also occasionally found in the flooded rainforests of the Congo Basin.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is a very solid wood, suitable for parquet flooring, often used as a substitute for teak; it also has particular aesthetic characteristics that make it highly prized for fine carpentry, luxury furniture, sculptures, fixtures and interior design.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
Population density is naturally low. In Congo, wenge is cut by armed gangs to pay for weapons.
Conservation measures
In Cameroon, a permit is required for logging this species.
IUCN Red List
IUCN
EN - Endangered - At risk of extinction
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Coarse
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
870
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
59
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
91
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
144
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
21050
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Very durable
Insect resistance
Resistant
Miscellaneous
Given its highly endangered natural state, its use should be avoided. The dust resulting from processing this wood causes skin and respiratory problems.