Guibourtia arnoldiana (de Wild. & Th. Dur.) J. Léonard (Mutenye)
Nomenclature etc. CAESALPINIACEAE. Syn.: Copaifera arnoldiana (de Wild. & Th. Dur.) Th. et H. Dur., Copaipa arnoldiana de Wild. & Th. Dur. Trade and local names: mutenye (D, GB, B, F, RPC, ZRE); benge; mutene (B, ZRE); kouan, ogboneli (CAM); benzi, libengé, nténé, tungi (RPC); Phantasiename: Jaspis- oder Paradies- Nussbaum (D); olivier tropical (F); olive walnut (GB).
Tree. Geographic distribution: tropical Africa.
General. Growth ring boundaries indistinct or absent, growth ring boundaries demarcated by marginal parenchyma and slight changes in vessel frequency. Heartwood basically yellow (grey-yellowish) green to brown (light brown to light olive), with streaks (with nearly black colour striping). Sapwood colour distinct from heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.78–0.88–0.96 g/cm³ (12–15% mc).
Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels arranged in no specific pattern, in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter 75–110–140 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 9–15–27. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 5–8 µm, vestured. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Helical thickenings absent. Other deposits in heartwood vessels present (dark brown).
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness to very thick-walled. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate. Fibre pits large and conspicuous.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma banded and not banded. Axial parenchyma bands marginal (or seemingly marginal), fine, up to three cells wide. Axial parenchyma apotracheal and paratracheal. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse (then mostly thick-walled, crystalliferous and located immediately adjacent to rays). Paratracheal axial parenchyma vasicentric, aliform, and confluent. Aliform parenchyma lozenge. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 2–4–6. Occasionally with thickened (sclerotic) cell walls.
Rays. Rays 4–9–17 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, (1–)3–5 cells wide. Rays with multiseriate portions as wide as uniseriate portions absent. Rays composed of a single cell type. Homocellular ray cells procumbent.
Storied structures. Storied structure absent.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals 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. Silica not observed.
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract fluorescent (green). Water extract basically yellow or shade of yellow. Ethanol extract fluorescent (light blue). Ethanol extract basically colourless to brown or shade of brown and yellow or shade of yellow (yellowish-brown). Froth test positive, or negative.
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).