Distemonanthus benthamianus Baillon (Movingui)
Nomenclature etc. CAESALPINIACEAE. Trade and local names: movingui (CI, Fr, WAN, D), ayan, anyaran (GB, WAN), barré, guétalie, koa (CI), bonsamdua, duabai (GH), okpe (TG), bosong, eyen, sella (CAM), muvenghi, eyen, ogueminya (G); eyen, bien (EGu). Status of protection under CITES regulations: not protected.
Tree. Geographic distribution: tropical Africa.
General. Growth ring boundaries distinct. Heartwood basically yellow to brown (yellow when green, darkening to yellowish brown). Sapwood colour distinct from heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.6–0.68–0.8 g/cm³.
Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter 120–180–255 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 2–7–14. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 9–13 µm, vestured. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits, of uniform size or type.
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 1000–1350–1750 µm. Fibre pits common in both radial and tangential walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Paratracheal axial parenchyma aliform. Aliform parenchyma winged. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 2–4.
Rays. Rays 4–10 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, 2–5 cells wide. Rays composed of two or more cell types. Heterocellular rays square and upright cells restricted to marginal rows. Number of marginal rows of upright or square cells mostly 1 and 2–4. Sheath cells absent.
Storied structures. Storied structure present, all rays storied, axial parenchyma storied, vessel elements storied.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals absent.
Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, prismatic, located in ray cells and axial parenchyma cells. Crystal-containing ray cells upright and/or square, upright and/or square ray cells chambered. Crystal-containing axial parenchyma cells chambered. Number of crystals per cell or chamber one. Cystoliths absent. Silica present, as grains and in aggregates, in rays cells and in axial parenchyma.
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).