Pycnanthus angolense (Welw.) Warb. (Ilomba)
Nomenclature etc. MYRISTICACEAE. Syn.: Pycnanthus kombo Warb., Myristica angolensis Welw., Myrystica kombo Baill. Trade and local names: Ilomba (D, F, GB, G, CAM, RPC); adria, effoi, hétéré, qualélé, walélé (CI) cardwood (GB) otie, etsi (GH) dihn, dihin (LB) abora, akumu, ekom (WAN) bali, bemba, bokondo, ilimba, nesamba, teng, tian, (CAM) kombo, mulomba, (G) bosenga, lomba, thsimbuku, lusenga senga (RPC) mutuje (ANG) lolako (ZRE) gboyei (WAL) calabo (EGu).
Tree. Geographic distribution: tropical Africa.
General. Heartwood basically red to white or grey. Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.32–0.4–0.46 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 150–220–320 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 1–3–5. Average vessel element length 600–1200 µm. Perforation plates simple or scalariform (few). Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 9–12 µm. Vessel-ray pits with reduced borders or apparently simple, horizontal to vertical. Helical thickenings absent. Tyloses in vessels present, thinwalled.
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 1200–1700–2300 µm. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate. Fibres arranged in regular radial rows (transverse section).
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Paratracheal axial parenchyma scanty. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 10.
Rays. Rays 4–10 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, 1–3 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 1.
Storied structures. Storied structure absent.
Secretory structures. Oil and mucilage cells absent. Intercellular canals absent. Laticifers or tanniniferous tubes absent.
Cambial variants. Included phloem absent.
Mineral inclusions. Crystals not observed. Silica not observed.
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).