The Tree
The tree attains very large sizes and may be 1.0m to 2.5m in diameter at the base.

The Timber
Gaboon is one of the most useful hardwoods and is used in large quantities for plywood and blockboard. As it has a fairly close resemblance to African mahogany, it has been known as gaboon mahogany, but since it is unrelated to the true mahoganies the description is misleading and should be discontinued. The colour of the wood is fairly constant at a light pinkish-brown. It is usually straight grained with little figure, though there is a slight stripe when cut on the quarter. It weighs 430kg/m3 when dried.

Drying
The timber dries well with comparatively little tendency to degrade during the process.

Strength
It is a weak wood with strength properties about the same as for poplar.

Working Qualities
Medium - The timber works reasonably well with most hand and machine tools, but it is inclined to be woolly, and blunts saw teeth rather quickly. Since its use is mainly for plywood and blockboard, the processes involved in veneer production can be carried out without undue difficulty, and the resultant boards take a fine sheen when scraped or sanded.