Entandrophragma utile

Entandrophragma utile
Platycerium elephantotis on the trunk of Entandrophragma utile
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Meliaceae
Genus:	Entandrophragma
Species:	E. utile
Binomial name
Entandrophragma utile (Dawe & Sprague) Sprague [2]
Synonyms [2]
Entandrophragma macrocarpumA.Chev. Entandrophragma roburoidesVermoesen Entandrophragma thomasiiLedoux Pseudocedrela utilisDawe & Sprague

Entandrophragma utile, called the sipo or utile, is a species of large tree in the genus Entandrophragma , native to nearly all of tropical Africa facing the Atlantic, from Guinea to Angola, and as far east as Uganda. ^[2] The timber is traded as a tropical hardwood. It is sometimes called sipo mahogany. It shares many of the characteristics of genuine mahogany and is used as an alternative. ^[3]

The timber provides high chatoyancy, with an average value above 21 PZC. ^[4]

Radial surface of wood

References

1. Hawthorne, W. (1998). "Entandrophragma utile". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 1998 e.T32236A9690202. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T32236A9690202.en . Retrieved 13 December 2024.
2. "Entandrophragma utile (Dawe & Sprague) Sprague". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 11 December 2020.
3. Meier, Eric. "Mahogany Mixups: the Lowdown". The Wood Database. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
4. "Sipo". PZC Chatometry (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-07-27.