Microberlinia brazzavillensis A. Chev., M. bisulcata A. Chev. (Zebrano)
Nomenclature etc. CAESALPINIACEAE. Trade and local names: Zebrano, Zingana (D, G, CAM), Amouk, Allen ele (CAM), Izingana (G), Enuk-Enug (EGu), African Zebrawood (GB).
Tree. Geographic distribution: tropical Africa.
General. Heartwood basically brown to white or grey, with streaks (dark brown). Sapwood colour distinct from heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.65–0.73 g/cm³. Interlocked grain; green wood with unpleasant odour.
Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Average tangential vessel diameter 110–205–265 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² (1–)4–11. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 6–8 µm, vestured. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Other deposits in heartwood vessels present (brown).
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 1120–1440–1680 µm. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma banded and not banded. Axial parenchyma bands marginal (or seemingly marginal), fine, up to three cells wide. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates. Paratracheal axial parenchyma aliform. Aliform parenchyma lozenge. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 2–4.
Rays. Rays 10–14 per tangential mm, exclusively uniseriate. Rays composed of a single cell type. Homocellular ray cells procumbent.
Storied structures. Storied structure present (rarely), all rays storied, axial parenchyma not storied, vessel elements storied, fibres not storied. Arrangement of tiers irregular.
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.
Miscellaneous. • Wood surface.
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).
