Entandrophragma
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2013) |
| Entandrophragma | |
|---|---|
| |
| Sapele Tree | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | Entandrophragma
|
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
Entandrophragma is a genus of twelve species of deciduous trees in the mahogany family Meliaceae, restricted to tropical Africa.[1][2] At least some of the species attain large sizes, reaching 40–50 m tall, exceptionally 60 m, and 2 m in trunk diameter. The leaves are pinnate, with 5-9 pairs of leaflets, each leaflet 8–10 cm long with an acuminate tip. The flowers are produced in loose inflorescences, each flower small, with five yellowish petals about 2 mm long, and ten stamens. The fruit is a five-valved capsule containing numerous winged seeds. In 2016 a specimen of Entandrophragma excelsum towering more than 80 m was identified at Kilimanjaro[3].
Species
- Entandrophragma angolense (Welw.) C.DC.
- Entandrophragma bussei Harms ex Engl.
- Entandrophragma candollei Harms
- Entandrophragma caudatum (Sprague) Sprague
- Entandrophragma congoense (De Wild.) A.Chev.
- Entandrophragma cylindricum (Sprague) Sprague
- Entandrophragma delevoyi De Wild.
- Entandrophragma excelsum (Dawe & Sprague) Sprague
- Entandrophragma palustre Staner
- Entandrophragma pierrei A.Chev.
- Entandrophragma spicatum (C.DC.) Sprague
- Entandrophragma utile (Dawe & Sprague) Sprague
Uses
The timber of a few species is well known. These are traded under separate names and can be used more or less like mahogany, with that of Entandrophragma cylindricum perhaps closest to a mahogany-type wood. The wood has a density of 660 kg per cubic meter.[4]
References
- ^ Klaus Kubitzki (10 December 2010). Flowering Plants. Eudicots: Sapindales, Cucurbitales, Myrtaceae. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 194–. ISBN 978-3-642-14397-7.
- ^ Entandrophragma C. DC. in Bull. Herb. Boissier 2:582 t.21 (1894)
- ^ https://www.newscientist.com/article/2114073-africas-tallest-tree-measuring-81m-found-on-mount-kilimanjaro
- ^ Utile. Niche Timbers. Accessed 20-09-2009.
External links
- Tiama Entandrophragma angolense
- Kosipo Entandrophragma candollei
- Sapeli Entandrophragma cylindricum
- Sipo (Utile) Entandrophragma utile