Wood Species Guide
Avodire
Turraeanthus africanus
Also called: Apapaye, Engan, African White Mahogany
About the name “Avodire”
Avodire is sometimes sold as white mahogany, but that name is also used for primavera (which has its own page) and for an Australian eucalyptus. Avodire is a true member of the mahogany family, just a pale one.
What Avodire looks like
Pale cream to light yellow when fresh, ripening to a golden yellow. Sapwood and heartwood look about the same. Figured stock shows a shimmering mottle or ripple.
Grain and texture
Grain may be straight, wavy or interlocked, with a fine texture and a high luster that gives figured boards their glow.
Working Avodire: planing, cutting and gluing
Generally easy to work and stable, much like the true mahoganies. Interlocked grain tears out in the planer, so use sharp knives and light final passes. It has a slight blunting effect and glues well.
Finishing Avodire: oil, film finishes and epoxy
A clear finish shows off the shimmer. Oil-based finishes will amber the pale color, while water-based finishes keep it lighter. The fine pores seal easily under epoxy, but its own color yellows with light, so expect it to warm over time.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Not decay resistant and prone to insect attack, so it is an indoor wood only. It is dimensionally stable once dry. In Florida, acclimate it in the AC and seal all faces.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Avodire is a cabinet and veneer wood: pale, gold and shimmery, great for drawer fronts, panels and accent work where you want light color with figure. It isn't a slab species. Keep it away from dark dust like walnut or padauk while sanding, because the pale surface picks up stains. We don't stock it, but ask us and we can often source it.
Common uses for Avodire
Veneer, cabinetry, furniture, millwork, paneling and plywood.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices. It is rated Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because of habitat loss and overharvesting.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
Skin irritation and asthma-like symptoms are the main reports, and nosebleeds are mentioned occasionally. Serious reactions are uncommon.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + mask or respirator when sanding
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Skin irritation and asthma-like symptoms have been reported, along with occasional nosebleeds. Use dust collection and a mask or respirator when sanding.
Avodire in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Avodire listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
Similar woods: Mahoganies
- MahoganyIn stockSwietenia spp. (mainly S. macrophylla and S. mahagoni) Genuine mahogany is the classic furniture wood: stable, easy to work and warm reddish brown. Our mahogany slabs...
- SapeleIn stockEntandrophragma cylindricum Sapele is an African hardwood with a mahogany-like reddish brown color and a shimmering ribbon figure on quartersawn...
- Spanish CedarIn stockCedrela odorata Spanish cedar is a light, aromatic relative of mahogany. It smells great, resists bugs and rot, and is...
- African MahoganyKhaya spp. (mainly K. ivorensis, K. anthotheca, K. grandifoliola) African mahogany gives you the warm red-brown mahogany look at a friendlier price. It is light, easy to...
- African WalnutLovoa trichilioides African walnut is a golden brown, ribbon-striped member of the mahogany family that is sold as a walnut...
- AndirobaCarapa guianensis Andiroba, also called crabwood, is a reddish-brown tropical American hardwood related to mahogany. It's a workable, budget-friendlier stand-in...