Common Name:

General Information

Asteropeia rhopaloides is an evergreen tree usually growing up to 25 metres tall, exceptionally to 30 metres. The bole is up to 75cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its timber.
The tree is facing two main threats. It is not tolerant to disturbance and is suffering from habitat loss because of shifting cultivation. In addition, unsustainable selective exploitation of the tree for timber is greatly reducing the population, with a predicted future decline in numbers of 50 - 80%. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - northern Madagascar.

Habitat

Evergreen humid forest at elevations from 800 - 1,400 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations from 800 - 1,400 metres.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is pale yellowish brown; it is usually distinctly demarcated from the paler sapwood. The grain is straight or interlocked; texture fine and even. The wood is heavy; very durable, being resistant to fungal and termite attacks[]. The boles are often submerged in water for a considerable time before they are used in construction; which reportedly makes the wood more durable[]. The wood is fairly easy to saw when stellite-tipped saw teeth are used. It takes an excellent polish, but picking up of grain may occur in planing when interlocked grain is present. Pre-boring is needed for nailing; the wood is liable to splitting. The wood glues with some difficulty, but varnishes and waxes well[]. The wood is known as 'manoka', and is used for house and bridge construction, especially as poles, and for joinery, railway sleepers and carvings. It is suitable for heavy flooring, interior trim, mine props, ship building, vehicle bodies, sporting goods, agricultural implements and turning[].

Propagation

Seed -

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