Wengé

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Wengé wood

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Phylum:	Tracheophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Legumenosae
Genus:	Millettia
Species:	M. laurentii

Binomial name

Millettia laurentii

Wengé wood (also known as palissandre d'Afrique/du Congo (African/Congolese rosewood), faux ebenier, dikela, mibotu, bokonge and awong) is a tropical timber of the Wengé tree (Millettia laurentii) from Africa. The heartwood is very dark and dense (specific gravity of 0.88) with a coarse grain and a pattern of nearly black grains separated by dark brown grains. The sapwood is distinct being pale yellow. The tree is native to Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, Tanzania, and Mozambique. The trees grow to a height of approximately 20 meters with a trunk of up to 1 meter in diameter. Its figure is very distinctive with a strong partridge pattern: because of this outspoken figure it is in and out of fashion.

[edit] Uses

Alembic guitars of California has used this wood on numerous occasions for custom instruments. Also, Warwick electric basses use it for fingerboards.

Well-known Global Bathroom manufacturer Kohler, uses Wengé in the construction of a number of pieces, including the iconic Escale Vanity furniture.

The wood is popular in woodturning, especially for segmented woodturning due to its dimensional stability and the color contrast when mixed with lighter woods such as Maple.

[edit] Health hazards

The dust given off when cutting or sanding Wengé can cause dermatitis similar to the effects of Poison ivy and is an irritant to the eyes. The dust can cause respiratory problems and drowsiness. Splinters are septic similar to the wood of the Chlorocardium rodiei tree which is commonly known as greenheart.