Common Name:

General Information

Tetraberlinia tubmaniana is an evergreen, occasionally a shrub, but more commonly a tree with a rather open crown that can be more than 75 metres in diameter; it usually grows 9 - 30 metres tall, occasionally reaching 42 metres. The straight bole can be free of branches for 21 metres; 8 - 90cm in diameter, the base without buttresses but often somewhat swollen or with up to 50cm high root swellings[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally and also traded. The species is especially interesting for forestry because of the high densities in which it occurs. In old stands the exploitable timber per hectare can be as high as 70 cubic metres[].
The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Liberia.

Habitat

Evergreen rain-forest at elevations up to 100 metres. A gregarious plant, only growing on flat to slightly undulate terrain with deep soils; the terrain should not be inundated nor have a high water-table[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	26.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropical lowlands, where it can be found at elevations up to 100 metres. It is found growing in areas with a mean annual rainfall in excess of 2,300mm, and a dry season of over 4 months[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is reddish-brown; the sapwood slightly pinkish pale brown. The wood shows distinct growth rings[].
The heartwood is pinkish-brown to dark brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the 2 - 12cm wide band of white to yellowish sapwood that becomes pinkish pale brown as it dries. The texture is medium; the grain straight or interlocked; there are distinct growth rings. The wood is light to moderately heavy, soft to moderately hard, not very durable, having some resistance to fungi but susceptible to dry wood borers and termites. The wood seasons somewhat slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. The wood can be worked with ordinary tools, though there is a risk of grain tearing in the presence of interlocked grain - a reduced cutting angle is recommended; nailing and screwing are poor; gluing is correct. The wood has many potentials, it is used in local construction and for making canoes, and is suitable for joinery, parquetry, light carpentry, panelling, boxes and crates, veneer, plywood etc[, ]. It supplies an extraordinarily good pulp[].

Propagation

Seed -

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