Cheesewood

Common Name(s): Cheesewood, emien

Scientific Name: Alstonia congensis and A. boonei

Distribution: Central and West Africa

Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall,

                      2-4 ft (.6-1.2 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 23.6 lbs/ft3 (380 kg/m3)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): .33, .38

Janka Hardness: 410 lbf (1,820 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 7,830 lbf/in2 (54.0 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 1,091,000 lbf/in2 (7.52 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 4,400 lbf/in2 (30.3 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 3.8%, Tangential: 5.3%,

                        Volumetric: 10.0%, T/R Ratio

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is light to golden brown, not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. Intermittent latex canals are sometimes present and appear as slits in the wood. The wood is also very susceptible to fungal staining if not dried properly. 

Grain/Texture: Grain is usually straight or slightly wavy or interlocked. With a fine to medium texture and low natural luster.

Rot Resistance: Rated as perishable; poor insect resistance.

Workability: Easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Poor bending properties. Turns, glues, and finishes well.

Odor: Can have a strong unpleasant odor when green, but dry wood has no characteristic odor.

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, cheesewood has been reported to cause skin irritation—possibly in conjunction with the latex canals found in the trunk. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Not commonly exported, cheesewood is more commonly used domestically for light construction. Occasional latex canals in the wood (every few feet) can greatly limit availability of large clear pieces.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern. However, Alstonia congensis has been regionally reported as endangered in the countries of Benin and Nigeria.

Common Uses: Interior construction, furniture (especially stools), carvings, and turned objects.

Comments: Cheesewood is a very lightweight wood with good workability and dimensional stability. It’s sometimes used in place of obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon)—another lightweight hardwood from West Africa. However, latex canals occur at intermittent intervals within the trunk and can interfere with the marketability of the wood on a larger scale.

Two very closely related species, Alstonia congensis and A. boonei are harvested and referred to as cheesewood interchangeably. Mechanical and physical characteristics of the wood are virtually identical, and the data listed above is a conglomeration of both species.