Berlinia craibiana
Baker f.
Fabaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Berlinia craibiana is a shrub or, more commonly, a tree that can grow from 3 - 30 metres tall. The bole can be 20 - 40cm in diameter.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. There are no documented reports, but the plant is very likely to be harvested from the wild for local use of its wood - the wood is also likely to be traded, in mixed consignments with other members of the genus.
Berlinia craibiana occurs across a wide area in west Africa, and is known to occur within the protected areas network, but the level of deforestation and natural habitat degradation in some of the areas in which the species occurs are high, indicating that botanical surveys and monitoring of the species is required. There are no estimates of population numbers for this species so population decline cannot be assessed with certainty, however population decline is not thought to be over the threshold for a threatened category. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
West tropical Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon
Habitat
Lowland humid forest, forest edges, along streams and in secondary forest; at elevations up to 400 metres.
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Tree |
| Height | 20.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
The plant is used as a healing medicine[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Other Uses
Other than one report for medicinal use, there are no documented human uses for this species. However other species in this genus are collected locally for building materials, as well as for food and medicines. The wood of the various species in this genus is very similar and so this species is likely to be used for purposes such as construction, furniture and flooring[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Berlinia wood is, in general, similar to white oak (Quercus alba) in durability, density and usefulness. It is an attractive, decorative hardwood that can be used for fine, interior joinery[
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
