Lovoa trichilioides Harms (Dibétou)
Nomenclature etc. MELIACEAE. Syn.: L. klaineana Pierre es Sprague. Trade and local names: Dibétou (D, F, CI); Bibolo (D, CAM, G); Abanif, Koudra, Lakoa, Moutchibanaie, Ti-kossou (CI); Dubini-biri, Penkwa, Tema(m)ire (GH); Apop(o), Lovoa, Sida (WAN), Alop (CAM); Bombolu, Lifaki (ZRE); Eyan, Dominguila (G); Embero, Nvero (EGu); Congowood (USA); "Afrikanisches Nussbaum" (D), "Noyer d'Afrique" (F), "African Walnut" (GB).
Tree. Geographic distribution: tropical Africa.
General. Growth ring boundaries indistinct or absent. Heartwood basically brown to yellow (darkening considerably upon exposure, lustrous), without streaks. Sapwood colour distinct from heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.44–0.52–0.58(–0.64) g/cm³.
Vessels. Vessels present. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels arranged in no specific pattern, in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter 90–135–208 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 5–9–13. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 2–4 µm. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Other deposits in heartwood vessels present (dark brown).
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 880–1170–1460 µm. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma not banded. Axial parenchyma little apotracheal, or paratracheal. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty to confluent. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 4–6–8.
Rays. Rays 3–6 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, 1–3–4 cells wide. Rays composed of a single cell type, or two or more cell types (sometimes weakly heterocellular). Homocellular ray cells procumbent. Heterocellular rays square and upright cells restricted to marginal rows. Number of marginal rows of upright or square cells 1. Tile cells absent.
Storied structures. Storied structure absent.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals present or absent, traumatic origin, axial type, in long tangential lines or in short tangential lines. Laticifers or tanniniferous tubes absent.
Cambial variants. Included phloem absent.
Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, prismatic, located in axial parenchyma cells. Crystal-containing axial parenchyma cells chambered. Number of crystals per cell or chamber one. Cystoliths absent. Silica not observed.
Miscellaneous. • Wood surface. Lovoa trichilioides.
Cite this publication as: H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz (2000 onwards). 'Commercial timbers: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval.' In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th May 2000. http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/.
Dallwitz (1980) and Dallwitz, Paine and Zurcher (1993 onwards, 1995 onwards, 1998) should also be cited (see General references).
