African Mahogany Vs. Sapele

African Mahogany

The term African mahogany refers to a group of trees in the Khaya genus of the Meliaceae family, particularly the species Khaya ivorensis. Found throughout the West Coast of Africa, the tree reaches about 130 to 165 feet high and favors locations with moist soil. K. ivorensis has a thick bark and compound leaves with four to seven leaflets. Trees often produce no branches until a height of about 100 feet. The tree needs full sun to thrive.

Sapele

The sapele tree (Entandrophragma cylindricum) grows in western Africa and belongs to the same family, Meliaceae, as the African mahogany. The tree grows about 100 to 150 feet tall, with a width of 3 to 5 feet. Sapele can appear in either deciduous or evergreen forests. Timber companies have greatly exploited the available stands of the sapele tree and, like African mahogany, it might need protection from commercial logging in the future, according to the scientific journal "Forest Ecology and Management."

Wood

Both the woods that come from the two trees have a reddish-brown color, with the color of sapele wood typically darker than that of African mahogany. Sapele wood has a finer texture than African mahogany, with both species having a moderate decay resistance. Both types of wood work well, although sapele wood shows more vulnerability to tear out when worked with a planer or router. Woodworkers can glue and finish both woods easily. Sapele wood has a cedarlike smell, while African mahogany wood does not produce an odor.

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