Reference number  
DRS 427:2019  
© RSB 2019  
 
 
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
427 
 
1th edition  
2019 -mm-dd 
 
Round and sawn timber – Nomenclature of 
timbers used in Rwanda  
 
  DRS 427:2019  
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2019  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
prior written permission from R SB. 
Requests for permission to reprodu ce this document should be addressed to : 
Rwanda Standards  Board  
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E-mail: info@rsb.gov.rw  
Website: www.rsb.gov.rw   
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 427:2019 
iii                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 Nomenclature  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  2 
 DRS 427:2019  
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword  
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by R wanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task o f technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards adopted 
by Technical committ ees are ratified  by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 427 was prepared by Technical Co mmittee RSB/TC 54, Timber, furniture and engineered wood . 
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard:  
ASTM: D1165 – 13: Standard Nomenclature of Commercial Hardwoods and Softwoods  
The assistance de rived from the above  source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Timber, furniture and engineered 
wood  (RSB/TC 54) in the preparation of this standard.  
Action pour le Development de  l`Artisanat au Rwanda (ADARWA)  
Association pour la défense des droits des consommateurs au Rwanda ( ADECOR)  
Association pour la Promotion des Artisans du Bois ( APROAB)  
GiZ Eco—Emploi  
Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) — KITABI  
Kalka and Partners  Ltd 
MANUMETAL  
MASS DESIGN  
Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM)  
National Industrial Research and development Agency (NIRDA)  
New Forest Company (NFC)  DRS 427:2019 
v                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 REAL Contractors  
Rwanda Education Board (REB)  
Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA)  
Rwanda Public Procurement Authority (RPPA)  
Rwanda Water and Forestry Authority (RWFA)  
Rwanda Wood Association  
STRAW Tech  
University of Rwanda — College of Agriculture, Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine (UR — CAVM)  
University of Rwanda — College of Science an d Technology (UR — CST)  
Rwanda  Standards Board  (RSB) – Secretariat  DRS 427:2019  
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  vi 
 Introduction  
This Draft Rwanda S tandard provides a basis for uniformity in nomenclature of timbers used in timber business 
in Rwanda.  Timber species are listed with botanical names, ID code, Kinyarwanda standard name, French 
standard name, English standard name and origin (whether exotic or indigenous). There may be several 
commercial names for the same timber species. The listed commerc ial names are only representative of timber 
names used in Rwanda and in most French and English speaking countries. The ID codes used in this Draft 
Rwandan Standard is based on the European standard EN 13556:2003; they consist of four letters, where the 
two first ones refer to the genus and the following two to the species. The very first letter is always the first letter 
of the genus and the second another letter of the genus name. The third and fourth letters refer to the species.  
 DRS 427:2019  
1                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 Round and sawn timber – Nomenclature of timbers used in Rwanda  
1 Scope  
This Draft Rwanda Standard specifies names of commercial timbers used in Rwanda. The purpose of this 
standard is to provide common timber tree names for commercial species or species groups. Not all tree species 
grown in the country have been listed in this standard.  Only common commercial timbers (found in most timber 
markets as round or sawn timber ) have been included in this standard.  
2 Normative references  
There are no normative references in this  document . 
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, th e follow ing terms and definitions apply : 
3.1 
Exotic species  
Species grown in a non -native environment; species originating from another native environment.  
NOTE  Also referred to as “introduced species” or “alien species”  
3.2 
Indigenous species; native spec ies 
Species naturally growing in Rwanda or in the  identical native environments in the region (Central/Eastern 
Africa)  
3.3 
Origin  
Place of origin  
NOTE  Indication whether the species is exotic or indigenous (native). For imported timbers, the term refers to  the 
country of origin (source).  
3.4 
Botanical name  
Scientific identification  of the  genus and species of individual tree species   
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  2 
 3.5  
ssp. 
Several species in the genus  
3.6 
ID code  
Code assigned to the timber name or the species group name.  
3.7 
Kinyarwanda standard name  
Common  name used  in Rwanda.  
3.8 
French and English common tree name  
Identification of tree species in French and English speaking countries.  
4 Nomenclature  
Timber species found  in Rwanda are provided from Table 1 to Table 3 and show n by botanical names, ID code, 
Kinyarwanda standard name, French standard name, English standard name and origin.  Hardwood timb er 
species are shown in Table 1, s oftwood timb er species are shown in Table 2 whereas i mported foreign timber 
species groups are shown in Table 3.  
Table 1: Hardwood timber species  
No. Botanical name  ID code  Kinyarwanda 
standard name  French standard 
name  English standard 
name  Origin  
1.1 Acacia abyssinica  ACAB  Umunyinya  Acacia  Umbrella thorn, Flat -
top acacia  Indigenous  
1.2 Acacia gerrardii  ACGE  Umugunga  Acacia  Grey -haired acacia; 
Red thorn acacia  Indigenous  
1.3 Acacia hockii  ACHO  Umugenge  Acacia  Shittim wood (Irvine)  Indigenous  
1.4 Acacia kirkii  ACKI  Umukinga  Acacia  Flood plain acacia  Indigenous  
1.5 Acacia mearnsii  ACME  Barakatsi  Acacia noir, 
Mimosa vert  Black wattle; 
Australian acacia  Exotic  DRS 427:2019  
3                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 No. Botanical name  ID code  Kinyarwanda 
standard name  French standard 
name  English standard 
name  Origin  
1.6 Acacia melanoxylon  ACME  No name  Acacia à bois 
noir, Mimosa à 
bois noir  Australian 
blackwood, 
Blackwood Acacia  Exotic  
1.7 Acacia polyacantha  ACPO  Umugo  Acacia  White thorn acacia  Indigenous  
1.8 Acacia sieberiana  ACSI  Umunyinya  Acacia  Paperback acacia  Indigenous  
1.9 Acrocarpusflaxinifolius  ACFL  No name  Kuranjan* 1 Indian ash  Exotic  
1.10 Agauriasalicifolia 
(Agaristasalicifolia)  AGSA  Umukarakara  No name  No name  Indigenous  
1.11 Albiziaadianthifolia  ALAD  Umusebeya  Mepepe*  Flat crown albizia  Indigenous  
1.12 Albiziaamara  ALAM  Umunaniranzovu  Mepepe*  Bitter albizia  Indigenous  
1.13 Albiziachinensis  ALCH  Umusebeya  Albizia de chine, 
Kungkur*  Chinese albizia  Exotic  
1.14 Albiziagummifera  ALGU  Umusebeya  No name  Peacock flower  Indigenous  
1.15 Albizialebbeck  ALLE  Umusebeya  Siris*  Siris tree, Woman's 
Tonguealbizia  Exotic  
1.16 Alnusacuminata  ALAC  Alinusi  Aune  Andean alder  Exotic  
1.17 Alnusnepalensis  ALNE  Alinusi  Aune du Nepal  Nepalese alder  Exotic  
1.18 Azidirachtaindica  AZIN  Nimu  Neem  Neem tree  Exotic  
1.19 Bersamaabyssinica  BEAB  Umukaka  No  name  Winged bersama, 
Bitter bark  Indigenous  
1.20 Carapa grandiflora 
(Carapaprocera)  CAGR  Umushwati  Carapa rouge, 
Crabwood 
d’Afrique*  Crab nut, African 
crab wood  Indigenous  
1.21 Caseariarunssorica  CARU  Umuhanda, 
Umunyereza  Zapatero*  No name  Indigenous  
1.22 Cassipourearuwenzori
ensis  CARW  Ingongo  Pillarwood*  Ruwenzori pillar 
wood  Indigenous  
                                                      
  
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  4 
 No. Botanical name  ID code  Kinyarwanda 
standard name  French standard 
name  English standard 
name  Origin  
1.23 Casuarina equisetifolia  CAEQ  Filao  Filao, bois de fer, 
pin d’Australie  Whistling pine, 
Australia pine, 
Australian beefwood, 
beach she -oak Exotic  
1.24 Cedrelaserrata  CESE  Sederera  Cèdre de Chine, 
Acajou de Chine  Hill toon, Chinese 
mahogany; Chinese 
Toona  Exotic  
1.25 Ceibapentandra  CEPE  Umusufi  Fuma* or 
sunauma  Ceiba  Exotic  
1.26 Celtisafricana  CEAF  Ingege  Bois blanc puant  White stinkwood, 
African celtis   
1.27 Chrysophyllumgorung
osanum  CHGO  Umutoyi  Longhi*  Brown -berry fluted -
milkwood  Indigenous  
1.28 Cleistanthuspolystach
yus CLPO  Umusamba  No name  No name  Indigenous  
1.29 Combretummolle  COMO  Umurama  No name  Velvet leaved 
combretum; Velvet 
bushwillow  Indigenous  
1.30 Cordia africana  COAF  Umuvugangoma  Cordia d’Afrique  Large -leaved cordia  Indigenous  
1.31 Cornusvolkensii 
(Africraniavolkensii)  COVO  Umujegeshi  No name  Afrocrania  Indigenous  
1.32 Croton macrostachyus  CRMA  Umurangara  No name  Broad -leaved croton, 
Candleflower  Indigenous  
1.33 Croton megalocarpus  CRME  Umunege  Croton  Croton, Musine  Indigenous  
1.34 Dasylepisrecemosa  DARE  Urubumbuli, 
Ingomwa  No name  Quinhal, 
quinhuacolorada  Indigenous  
1.35 Dombeyagoetzenii (D. 
torrida)  DOGO  Umukore  No name  Forest dombeya  Indigenous  
1.36 Ekebergiacapensis  EKCA  Umujuga, Umundoyi  No name  Ekebergia, Cape ash  Indigenous  
1.37 Entandrophragmaexce
lsum  ENEX  Umuyove, Libuyu  Acajou  Afromontane 
mahogany; Muyovu  Indigenous  
1.38 Erythrinaabyssinica  ERAB  Umuko  Arbre de 
coraild'Abyssinie  Coral tree, Lucky 
been tree  Indigenous  DRS 427:2019  
5                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 No. Botanical name  ID code  Kinyarwanda 
standard name  French standard 
name  English standard 
name  Origin  
1.39 Eucalyptus 
camaldulensis  EUCA  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  River red gum  Exotic  
1.40 Eucalyptus cinerea  EUCI  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  Argyle apple, Silver 
dollar gum  Exotic  
1.41 Eucalyptus citriodora  EUCI  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  Lemon -scented 
gum, spotted gum  Exotic  
1.42 Eucalyptus globulus  EUGL  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  Tasmanian blue gum  Exotic  
1.43 Eucalyptus grandis  EUGR  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  Flooded gum  Exotic  
1.44 Eucalyptus maculata 
(Corymbusmaculata)  EUMA  Inturusu  Eucalyptus, Blue 
gum*  Spotted gum  Exotic  
1.45 Eucalyptus maidenii  EUMA  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  Maiden’s gum Exotic  
1.46 Eucalyptus microcorys  EUMI  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  Tallow wood  Exotic  
1.47 Eucalyptus saligna  EUSA  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  Sydney blue gum  Exotic  
1.48 Eucalyptus tereticornis  EUTE  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  Forest red gum  Exotic  
1.49 Eucalyptus urophylla  EUUR  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  Timor white gum, 
Timor mountaingum  Exotic  
1.50 Eucalyptus cloesiana  EUCL  Inturusu  Eucalyptus  Gympie 
messmate, 
cloeziana gum  Exotic  
1.51 Faureasaligna  FASA  Umutiti  No name  Beechwood, African 
beech  Indigenous  
1.52 Ficalhoalaurifolia  FILA  Umuhumbo, 
Umusarwe  Ficalhoa  Ficalhoa  Indigenous  
1.53 Ficusthonningii  FITH  Umuvumu  Figuier -palabres, 
India -laurel fig, 
Pepe*  Strangler fig, wild fig  Indigenous  
1.54 Grevillea robusta  GRRO  Gereveriya  Grevillea, 
Chêneargenté  Silky oak, Silver Oak  Exotic  
1.55 Hageniaabyssinica  HAAB  Umugeti  Hagenia  African redwood  Indigenous  
1.56 Harunganamadagasca
riensis  HAMA  Umushayishayi  Gouttier du 
Gabon  Orange milk tree  Indigenous   
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  6 
 No. Botanical name  ID code  Kinyarwanda 
standard name  French standard 
name  English standard 
name  Origin  
1.57 Ilex mitis  ILMI Umunywande  No name  African holly, Cape 
holly Indigenous  
1.58 Jacaranda mimosifolia  JAMI  Jakaranda  Jacaranda  Jacaranda, Brazilian 
rosewood, Blue 
jacaranda  Exotic  
1.59 Kigeliaafricana  KIAF  Umuvungavungo  Arbre de 
saucisse  Sausage tree  Indigenous  
1.60 Macaranganeomildbra
ediana  MANE  Umusekera  Macaranga  Spiny macaranga  Indigenous  
1.61 Maesalanceolata  MALA  Umuhanga  No name  False assegai  Indigenous  
1.62 Maesopsiseminii  MAEM  Umuhumuro  Maesopsis  Umbrella tree  Indigenous  
1.63 Magnistipulabutayei  MABU  Intambasha  No name  No name  Indigenous  
1.64 Markhamialutea  MALU  Umusave2 Markhamia  Nile tulip tree  Indigenous  
1.65 Mitragynarubrostipulos
a MIRU  Umuzibaziba  No name  No name  Indigenous  
1.66 Musangaleo -errerae  MULE  Umugaja, 
Umugajagaja  Parasolier*  No name  Indigenous  
1.67 Myrianthusholstii  MYHO  Umwufe  No name  Giant yellow 
mulberry  Indigenous  
1.68 Neoboutoniamacrocal
yx NEMA  Umwanya  No name  Neoboutonia  Indigenous  
1.69 Newtoniabuchananii  NEBU  Umukereko  Mafamuti*  Newtonia, Forest 
newtonia  Indigenous  
1.70 Nuxia floribunda  NUFL  Umwesa  Nuxia  White elder, Forest 
elder  Indigenous  
1.71 Ocoteakenyensis  OCKE  Ingomwa  Ocotea  Bastard stinkwood  Indigenous  
1.72 Ocoteamichelsonii  OCMI  Umuganza  No name  No name  Indigenous  
                                                      
 DRS 427:2019  
7                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 No. Botanical name  ID code  Kinyarwanda 
standard name  French standard 
name  English standard 
name  Origin  
1.73 Ocoteausambarensis  OCUS  Umutake  Camphrierd’Afriq
ue Camphor, East 
African camphor 
wood  Indigenous  
1.74 Olea europaea  OLEU  Umunzenze  No name  African wild olive, 
Brown olive  Indigenous  
1.75 Olea hochstetteri  OLHO  Intobo  No name  East African olive, 
black ironwood  Indigenous  
1.76 Oliniarochetiana (o. 
usambarensis)  OLRO  Umusasa  No name  Olinia, Mountain 
hard pear, 
Berghardpeer  Indigenous  
1.77 Parinariexcelsa  PAEX  Inkungu, Umunazi  Sougoueà 
grandefeuilles  Grey plum, Guinea 
plum  Indigenous  
1.78 Pentadesmareyndersii  PERE  Umwasa  No name  No name  Indigenous  
1.79 Perseaamericana  PEAM  Avoka  Avocatier  Avocado tree  Exotic  
1.80 Polysciasfulva  POFU  Umwungo  No  name  Parasol tree  Indigenous  
1.81 Prunusafricana  PRAF  Umwumba  Mueri*  Red stinkwood, 
Bitter almond  Indigenous  
1.82 Pterygotamildbraedii  PTMI  Umuguruka  Mabin*  Mubende witch tree  Indigenous  
1.83 Sapiumellipticum  SAEL  Umusasa, 
Umusurirabakonzi  No name  Jumping -seed tree  Indigenous  
1.84 Senna siamea  SESI  Kasiya  Bois perdrix, 
Djohar*  Siamese senna, 
Yellow cassia  Exotic  
1.85 Senna spectabilis  SESP  Kasiya  No name  Golden cassia  Exotic  
1.86 Spathodeacampanulat
a SPCA  No name  Tulipier du gabon  African tulip tree, 
flame of forest  Exotic  
1.87 Strombosiascheffleri  STSC  Umushyika  No name  Strombosia  Indigenous  
1.88 Symphoniaglobulifera  SYGL  Umushishi  Bois cochon, 
Arquane, Ossol*  Chewstick, 
Chestick,Boarwood  Indigenous  
1.89 Syzigiumparvifolium  SYPA  Umugote  No name  Syzigium  Indigenous  
1.90 Terminalia menthaly  TEME  Teriminaliya  Terminalia, Arbre 
parasol  Terminalia, Indian 
almond  Exotic   
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  8 
 Table 2: Softwood timber species  
No. Botanical name  ID code  Kinyarwanda 
standard name  French standard 
name  English standard name  Origin  
2.1 Araucaria angustifolia  ARAN  Arokariya  Araucaria du 
Brésil, Pin du 
Parana  Parana pine  Exotic  
2.2 Araucaria bidwillii  ARBI  Arokariya  No name  Bunya pine, Monkey 
Puzzle Tree  Exotic  
2.3 Araucaria brasiliana  ARBR  Arokariya  Araucaria du Brésil  Brazilian pine or 
candelabra tree  Exotic  
2.4 Araucaria 
cunninghamii  ARCU  Arokariya  Araucarie de 
cunningham  Colonial pine, Hoop 
pine Exotic  
2.5 Araucaria heterophylla 
(A. excels)  ARHE  Arokariya  Araucaria, Pin de 
Norfolk  Norfok island pine  Exotic  
2.6 Callitriscalcarata  CACA  Kalitirisi  Pin cyprès  Black cypress pine  Exotic  
2.7 Callitrisglauca  CAGL  Kalitirisi  Pin cyprès  Murray river pine  Exotic  
2.8 Callitrisquadrivalvis  CAQU  Kalitirisi  Pin cyprès  Sandarac tree  Exotic  
2.9 Callitrisrobusta  CARO  Kalitirisi  Pin cypr ès Cypress pine  Exotic  
2.10 Cupressuslusitanica  CULU  Sipure  Cypr ès Mexican cypress  Exotic  
2.11 Pinuscaribaea  PICA  Pinusi  Pin mate, Pin jaune  Pine, Caribbean pine, 
Pitch pine, Cuban pine  Exotic  
2.12 Pinuskesiya  PIKE  Pinusi  Pin de Benguet  Pine, Benguet pine  Exotic  
2.13 Pinusoocarpa  PIOO  Pinusi  Pin Pine, Ocote chino  Exotic  
2.14 Pinuspatula  PIPA  Pinusi  Pin mexicain  Pine, Mexican weeping 
pine Exotic  
2.15 Podocarpus falcatus 
(P. usambarensis; 
Afrocarpus falcatus)  POFA  Umufu  Podo  East African yellow 
wood, Podo  Indigenous  
2.16 Podocarpuslatifolius 
(P. milanjianus)  POLA  Umuhulizi  Podo  East African yellow 
wood, Podo  Indigenous  
Table 3: Imported foreign timber species  
No. Botanical name  ID code  Kinyarwanda 
standard name  French standard 
name  English standard 
name  Origin  DRS 427:2019  
9                ©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved  
 3.1 Entrandrophragmacylin
dricum  ENCY  Libuyu  Sapelli, 
cédratd’Afrique  African mahogany, 
Sapele/Sapelli,  
Sapele mahogany  DRCongo/  
Uganda  
3.2 Entrandrophragmautile  ENUT  Libuyu  Sipo, Assie, 
Acajou  Sipo mahogany, 
Mahogany, Feather 
sepele, Ashanti cedar, 
African cedar  DRCongo/  
Uganda  
3.3 Khayaanthotheca  KHAN  Libuyu  Acajou  East African 
mahogany  Tanzania/  
Uganda  
3.4 Khayasenegalensis  KHSE  Libuyu  Acajou, Bois 
rouge  African mahogany, dry 
zone mahogany  Tanzania/  
Uganda  
3.5 Miliciaexcelsa 
(Chlorophoraexcelsa)  MIEX  Muvula  Chêned'Afrique  African teak,Iroko, 
Mvule  DRCongo/  
Uganda  
3.6 Tectonagrandis  TEGR  No name  Teck  Teak  Tanzania/ 
Uganda  
1 Name with asterisk (*) are from ATIBT Nomenclature (2016)  
2 This timber species is also imported from DRCongo/Uganda  
 3Origin here means the country where the timber is imported from  
 
  
©RSB 2019  - All rights reserved                  10 
 Bibliography  
[1] Bryce, J.M. (1967) revised edition by Chihongo, A.W. (1999). The commercial timbers of Tanzania.  
TAFORI.Morogoro, Tanzania.  
[2] Egli, A and Kalinganire, A. (1989) Les arbresetarbustesagroforestiers au Rwanda. ISAR, Butare, Rwanda  
[3] MINAGRI (1977) Guide des principales essences de la forêt de montagne du Rwanda. Di rection des Eaux 
et desForêts.  
[4] MINIRENA (2017) Ajenda y’Amashyamba 2017. Kigali, Rwanda  
[5] MINIFOM (2010) Essences ligneuses recommandées dans les plantations forestières et agroforestières au 
Rwanda avec cartes d’aptitudes par zone agro -bioclimatique du Rwan da. 
[9] Troupin, G. and Donneaux, A. (1982) Plantes ligneuses du Rwanda. Lexique des noms Kinyarwanda. INRS 
& ISAR, Butare, Rwanda  
[10] ATIBT (2016) Nomenclature Générale des Bois Tropicaux. Paris, FranceDRS 429:2019  
ICS 79.040 
 
 
©RSB 2019  - All right s reserved