Anigre

Overview

Anigre (Pouteria spp., formerly Aningeria) is a pale yellowish-brown wood, sometimes pinkish, that darkens to golden brown with age and is mostly sliced into veneer. It is plain unless figured. Solid boards are seen occasionally.

Pros

• Light yellowish brown, sometimes figured with curl or mottle.
• Janka 990 lbf, about 550 kg/m3.
• Moderate price for an imported hardwood.
• Fair working properties.
• No health reactions reported beyond standard wood-dust risks.

Cons

• Non-durable to perishable, and not resistant to insects.
• Sapwood is susceptible to blue fungal staining.
• Silica in some species blunts tools.
• Mostly veneer; solid boards are not widely stocked.
• Tends to shrink unevenly (3.8% radial, 7.0% tangential, T/R 1.8).

Variants and subspecies

• Pouteria spp.: several species sold together; Wood Database calls the genus a 'wastebasket taxon'.
• Figured anigre: curly or mottled stock, priced much higher.
• Substitute: Sapele or Basswood for plain interior work.

Working and finishing

Fair working properties; use carbide tools if silica is present. Interior use only.

Staining and finishing colour

Colour darkens to golden brown with age. Takes clear and tinted finishes.

Sustainability and handling

CITES: not listed (Wood Database; APHIS CITES Timber Species Manual, checked 2026-09-30). IUCN: some species are reported as conservation dependent; Wood Database warns that ending current conservation programmes would likely push them to Vulnerable or Endangered. FSC availability is not verified here. The US Lacey Act makes it unlawful to trade wood taken or exported in breach of the source country's laws (fws.gov/law/lacey-act), so buy from dealers who can name the country and species. If a piece will be exported to or sold in the EU, Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 (the EUDR) requires due-diligence evidence that wood products are deforestation-free and legally produced; check its current application date with your buyer.

Ethical call: reasonable; ask for the species and origin. Health: no reactions reported beyond standard dust risks. The US National Cancer Institute reports strong, consistent associations between wood-dust exposure and cancers of the nasal cavity and sinuses, so use extraction and a respirator when sanding.

Popular projects

Veneer, plywood, interior furniture, boat parts and light construction.

Buying notes

Mostly veneer. Plain lumber prices were not found, so the lower figure is an estimate; figured boards at Exotic Lumber work out to about $27 to $29 a board foot (September 2026).