Entandrophragma excelsum
| Entandrophragma excelsum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Meliaceae |
| Genus: | Entandrophragma |
| Species: | E. excelsum |
| Binomial name | |
|
Entandrophragma excelsum (Dawe & Sprague) Sprague |
|
Entandrophragma excelsum, is Africa’s tallest indigenous tree native to tropical East Africa and occurs in eastern D.R.of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. This species is scattered in areas of upland semi-deciduous forest, in mid-altitude and montane rainforest, at (925 –) 1280 – 2150 altitude. It is locally also found in riverine forest.
Entandrophragma excelsum deciduous, dioecious large tree commonly up to 45 (–60) m tall. Bole branchless for up to 27 m, straight and cylindrical, up to 200 (–250) cm in diameter, with large buttresses up to 5 m high. In 2016 in a remote valley on the continent’s highest mountain Kilimanjaro, northern Tanzania has been discovered Africa's tallest tree, it was measured at 81.5 meters tall. The ten known tallest individuals of Entandrophragma excelsum ranged from 59.2 to 81.5 m and 1.24 to 2.55 m diameter.
Leaves pinnate on stalks to 60 cm or more with 8–16 large leaflets, almost opposite, each one oblong, 8 – 18 (–30) cm long and 4.5 – 8 (–14) cm wide. Inflorescence 25 – 30 cm long and 10 – 15 cm wide. Flowers unisexual, tiny, white or pinkish white.
The wood is moderately lightweight, with a density of 460–530 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content.
The wood of Entandrophragma excelsum is not in much demand for local applications because it often warps and twists considerably upon drying. Moreover, it is not durable and not very attractively figured. Its occurrence in mountain regions often hampers commercial exploitation.
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Wikipedia