Afzelia pachyloba
| Afzelia pachyloba | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Afzelia |
| Species: | A. pachyloba
|
| Binomial name | |
| Afzelia pachyloba | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
Afzelia pachyloba, commonly known as afzelia, white afzelia, doussié, or doussié blanc, is a species of tree in the family Fabaceae that is native to tropical Western and Central Africa. It is harvested for its timber.
Distribution and habitat
[edit]A. pachyloba occurs in Angola, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, and the Republic of the Congo. It grows in evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, including secondary forests, at altitudes of up to 200 m (660 ft). It is usually scattered at low densities throughout its habitat and prefers well-drained locations.[3]
Description
[edit]A. pachyloba is a medium to large deciduous tree growing up to 40 m (130 ft) tall. The straight, cylindrical trunk may grow to up to 150 cm (59 in) in diameter and may be branchless for up to 25 m (82 ft). The base of the trunk may be fluted or have small buttresses up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high. The bark is greyish to brown and scaly. The leaves are paripinnate, each bearing between 5 and 10 pairs of leaflets arranged opposite one another. The petiole and rachis measure 6–20 cm (2.4–7.9 in) long. The leaflets are oblong to oblong-lanceolate in shape and measure 2–6 cm (0.79–2.36 in) by 1–2.5 cm (0.39–0.98 in). The inflorescence is a panicle growing up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long. The bisexual flowers are zygomorphic, with four sepals and one petal, and have a sweet fragrance. The fruit is a flattened, dehiscent, kidney-shaped pod that measures 13–20 cm (5.1–7.9 in) by 9–13 cm (3.5–5.1 in) and contains up to 15 seeds. The seeds are black with a yellow aril covering up to a quarter of its length.[3]
Uses
[edit]The wood of A. pachyloba is durable and resistant to both humidity and wood-eating insects. It is traded on the international timber market as doussié, a name also applied to timber from other Afzelia species, and is primarily exported from Cameroon. It is used for boat-building, construction, firewood, furniture, mine props, musical instruments, sports equipment, turnery, and railway sleepers.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ African Regional Workshop (Conservation Sustainable Management of Trees, Zimbabwe, July 1996) (1998). "Afzelia pachyloba". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T33034A9751882. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T33034A9751882.en. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Afzelia pachyloba Harms". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Gérard, J.; Louppe, D. (2011). "Afzelia pachyloba Harms". PROTA4U. Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Retrieved 11 August 2024.