Shedua (Guibourtia arnoldiana)

Characteristics Light Heavy Weight: Soft Hard Hardness: Fine Coarse Texture: Easy Difficult Working: Easy Difficult Finishing: Chart Help

Shedua Characteristics

Moderately coarse, and interlocked grain that produces striped and, sometimes, curly figure. Also called Ovangkol, often sold for highly figured veneers. Hard, heavy and takes a glass-like finish.

Color Range

The heartwood is described to vary from yellow brown to dark brown or chocolate brown, with gray to almost black stripes.

Other Names

Benge, Benzi, Bubinga, Essingang, Kevazingo, M'Penze, Mbenge, Mutenye, Olive walnut, Ovang, Waka, Mozambique

Some Typical Uses

Furniture, cabinets, flooring, veneer, guitars and musical instruments, jewelry boxes, decorative projects.

What's the Tree Like?

Impressive mature trees are reported to reach heights of 100 to 150 feet, with trunk diameters of 4 to 7 feet. The trees are usually unbuttressed and produce boles that are reported to be well-formed, straight, and clear of branches to 50 to 100 feet.

Shedua grows in

Africa - Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria