Entandrophragma
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| iEntandrophragma | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||
|
See text. |
Entandrophragma is a genus of eleven species of deciduous trees in the mahogany family Meliaceae, restricted to tropical Africa. 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.
- Selected species
- Entandrophragma angolense - Tiama
- Entandrophragma candollei - Kosipo
- Entandrophragma cylindricum - Sapeli or Sapele
- Entandrophragma utile - Sipo or Utile
[edit] 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.
[edit] External links
- Tiama Entandrophragma angolense
- Kosipo Entandrophragma candollei
- Sapeli Entandrophragma cylindricum
- Sipo (Utile) Entandrophragma utile
