Commercial timbers

H. G. Richter and M. J. Dallwitz


Malacantha alnifolia Pierre (Aningré blanc)

Nomenclature etc. SAPOTACEAE. Trade and local names: Aningré, Longhi blanc, (fälschlicherweise auch als "rouge" lt. DIN 4076 Teil I; D, F), Aninguéri, Anigré, Agnégré (F), Aningeria (GB), Kali (D), Grogoli, Koandio, Osam (CI), Mukali (ANG), Mukalla (RPC), Inon, Agwa (WAN).

Tree. Geographic distribution: tropical Africa (West and Central Africa).

General. Heartwood basically white or grey to yellow. Sapwood colour similar to heartwood colour. Basic specific gravity 0.55–0.6 g/cm³.

Vessels. Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels arranged in no specific pattern, in multiples, commonly short (2–3 vessels) radial rows and radial rows of 4 or more. Average tangential vessel diameter 65–80–100 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 25–40. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 6–8 µm. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders and with reduced borders or apparently simple, similar to intervessel pits, horizontal to vertical, of uniform size or type and of two distinct sizes or types in the same ray cell, of the same type in adjacent elements and unilaterally compound and coarse. Tyloses in vessels present, thinwalled and sclerotic.

Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Fibres non-septate.

Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma banded. Axial parenchyma bands marginal (or seemingly marginal), reticulate, fine, up to three cells wide. Axial parenchyma apotracheal. Apotracheal axial parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per axial parenchyma strand 4–5.

Rays. Rays 9–15 per tangential mm, multiseriate, also if only few, (1–)2–4 cells wide. Rays with multiseriate portions as wide as uniseriate portions present. 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 2–4 and more than 4.

Storied structures. Storied structure absent.

Mineral inclusions. Crystals not observed. Silica present, as grains and in aggregates, in rays cells (only marginal cells).

Physical and chemical tests. 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