Turraeanthus africana
| Turraeanthus africana | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Meliaceae |
| Genus: | Turraeanthus |
| Species: | T. africana |
| Binomial name | |
| Turraeanthus africana (Welw.) Pellegr. | |
Turraeanthus africana is a species of plant in the Meliaceae (Mahogany) family. It is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. The genus name is derived from the botanist Turra (1607-1688) of Padua, Italy and arithos, a Greek word meaning flower.[1] Common names are: Avodire, apeya, engan, agbe, lusamba, wansenwa, African Satinwood, and African White Mahogany. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Description
Turraeanthus africana is described as a tree of the rain forest, typically, 115 ft. (35m), and having a trunk diameter of 2 to 3 ft. (0.6-0.9m). The wood of this tree has a specific gravity of 0.48.[2] It is commonly creamy white or pale yellow but will darken upon exposure to ultra-violet light to a golden yellow color. It has an interlocked wood grain producing various figures: striped, curly, or mottled.[3]
Uses
A preparation from the bark of this plant is used by Baka people in southeastern Cameroon to stun fish.[4] Avodire wood has long been valued in furniture for its naturally lustrous surface, which has led to the name African Satinwood. Commonly, the highly figured wood is used for veneers in panelling and marquetry.
References
- ↑ James H. Flynn and Charles D. Holder, Eds. A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, second edition, page 546, Forest Products Society, 2001
- ↑ United States Department of Agriculture."The Encyclopedia of Wood", page 1-18.Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.,2007
- ↑ Terry Porter: "Wood Identification and Use", page 224. Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd. 2004
- ↑ HUNTING ACTIVITIES IN FOREST CAMPS AMONG THE BAKA HUNTER-GATHERERS OF SOUTHEASTERN CAMEROON, African Study Monographs, 29(2): 73-92, July 2008
Sources
- African Regional Workshop (Conservation & Sustainable Management of Trees, Zimbabwe) 1998. Turraeanthus africanus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 August 2007.