Common Name:

General Information

Beilschmiedia kweo is an evergreen tree growing up to 30 metres tall. The straight, unbuttressed bole can be branchless for up to 15 metres, exceptionally to 25 metres, and up to 100cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber, which is widely used locally.
A large tree confined to the moist submontane forest of Tanzania, it has been classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - Tanzania.

Habitat

Submontane and montane rainforests at elevations from 800 - 1,800 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is olive-green, on drying it darkens to greenish-brown or chestnut-brown; it is distinctly demarcated from the cream coloured sapwood which can be up to 5cm wide[, ]. The grain is straight; texture medium; the wood is oily[]. The wood is hard, moderately to very durable, moderately resistant to marine borers and termites[]. It saws well, but with a tendency to split when star shakes are present, and with a marked blunting effect on sawteeth; it planes well, but only at low speed, otherwise tearing may occur; it moulds, bores and mortises cleanly; sands and polishes to a clean finish; and glues well[]. The nailing properties are poor, and pre-boring is necessary near edges; turning is easy[]. It is used as a furniture timber and also for flooring strips, panelling, veneers, gun stocks and tool handles[]. It is also suitable for light construction, interior trim, joinery, shipbuilding, sporting goods, agricultural implements, toys, novelties, turnery, poles, piles and mine props[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - only 12% of 2 month old seed has been recorded to germinate, whilst 70% of 3 month old seed germinates, which indicates a physiological dormancy[].

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