Commercial timbers

H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz


Erythrophleum ivorense A. Chev, E. guineense G. Don (Tali)

Nomenclature etc. CAESALPINIACEAE. E. ivorense - Syn.: E. micranathum Harms ex Holl. Trade and local names: tali (D, B, CI, F, WAN), lim du Gabon (F), ordeal tree (GB), missanda (GB, MOC, Z), mancone (GUB), alui, atiemia, lo, méli (CI), eloun, elon (G, CAM), elondo, eyo (G), bolondo, loundi, oloun (CAM), bobala, dikassaakassa, kassa, massanda, mishenga, sasswood, ngero (RPC, ZRE), muave (MOC), erun, ibo, obo (WAN), gogwi (WAL), potrodom (GH), etsa (TG). Status of protection under CITES regulations: not protected.

Tree. Geographic distribution: tropical Africa.

General. Heartwood basically brown to red to yellow, partly with streaks. Sapwood colour distinct from heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.82–0.94–1.04 g/cm³.

Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter 140–225–350 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 2–5–7. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 7–10 µm, vestured. Vessel-ray pits with reduced borders or apparently simple, rounded or angular.

Tracheids and fibres. Fibres very thick-walled. Average fibre length 540–1150–1630 µm. Fibre pits common in both radial and tangential walls, simple to minutely bordered.

Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Paratracheal axial parenchyma vasicentric, aliform, and confluent. Aliform parenchyma lozenge. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 4–7.

Rays. Rays 7–12 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, 1–2(–3) cells wide. Rays composed of a single cell type. Homocellular ray cells procumbent.

Storied structures. Storied structure present (occasionally) or absent, all rays storied, axial parenchyma not storied. Arrangement of tiers irregular. Stratification mostly irregular (wavy) and only macroscopically visible.

Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, prismatic, located in axial parenchyma cells. Crystal-containing axial parenchyma cells chambered. Number of crystals per cell or chamber one. Silica not observed.

Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood fluorescent (green). Water extract not fluorescent. Water extract basically colourless to brown or shade of brown, or red or shade of red. Ethanol extract fluorescent (green). Ethanol extract basically red or shade of red. Froth test positive.


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).

Index