Canarium

Cut piece of canarium

Description

Timber from any of the oily, tropical trees of the family Canarium, such as the Canarium schweinfurthii tree, native to Nigeria and Ghana. Canarium wood is a light pinkish brown in color. It is often stained as a mahogany substitute for use in flooring, furniture and cabinetry. Canarium wood has a tendency to warp and is prone to insect attack. Some canarium trees exude a resin, called elemi, which is used in varnishes and inks.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Canarium schweinfurthii; aïélé (Fr.)

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Density = 33 ppcf

Resources and Citations

• F. H. Titmuss, Commercial Timbers of the World, The Technical Press Ltd., London, 1965

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998