One of the defining characteristics of  Sapele is the interlocking grain patterns. These patterns are created from the fiber cells that stretch from the lowest points in the roots to the top of the canopy. During growth, these cells rotate in one way and can often suddenly switch the direction of rotation once or several times. These interlocked grain patterns can not only cause various issues during woodworking but also impact the visual appearance with the presence of ribbon stripes and many other dramatic figures on quartered sawn lumber and veneer. All theseanomalies in the texture of the wood create a dramatic and exotic look that is one of the primary reasons why  Sapele and its more famous cousin Mahogany are so praised all around the world. The three most common textures of  Sapele are Plain, Figured, and Pommele Figure.