Pterygota macrocarpa grows to a height of about 37 m (120ft), Pterygota bequaertii a little smaller. Bole reasonably straight but with fairly heavy buttresses, extending up to 6 m (20 ft) above ground level. Diameter above
buttresses 0.5-1.2 m (1½-4 ft). West Africa.

Colour - Creamy white.
Sapwood - Pale in colour, little different from heartwood.
Grain - Shallowly interlocked, commonly with small knot clusters. Texture moderately coarse. The high rays give the timber a striking fleck figure on accurately quarter-sawn stock.
Weight - Rather variable, from 830-750 kg/ m3 at 12 per cent moisture content; the average for Pterygota bequaertii, 650 kg/m3 is somewhat higher than that for P. macrocarpa, 560 kg/ m3
Strength - P. bequaertii comparable to European beech; P. macrocarpa somewhat lower.
Movement - Medium.
Moisture content in 90 percent relative humidity 19.5 percent
Moisture content in 60 percent relative humidity 11.5 percent
Corresponding tangential movement 3.0 percent
Corresponding radial movement 1.5 percent
Insect attack - Sapwood liable to attack by powder-post beetles. Reported to be non-resistant to termites in West Africa.
Durability of heartwood - Perishable.
Preservative treatment - Permeable.
Uses - Requires rapid extraction and conversion to be marketed in clean condition, free from stain and insect damage.
Suitable as an alternative to beech or ramin for use in furniture manufacture, interior joinery and carpentry and as a general utility construction timber for interior work.