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Useful Tropical Plants

Baikiaea insignis

Benth.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Baikiaea eminii Taub.

Baikiaea minor Oliv.

Common Name:

Baikiaea insignis
Ripening seedpod
Photograph by: Gilles Dauby
Creative Commons License
Baikiaea insignis Baikiaea insignis Baikiaea insignis

General Information

Baikiaea insignis is an evergreen tree with a crown that is often wide and spreading; it can grow from 5 - 34 metres tall. The cylindrical bole is usually straight; it can be free of branches for 3.5 - 20 metres; around 20 - 100cm in diameter; often fluted at the base and rarely with buttresses[
316
Title
Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Publication
 
Author
Chudnoff. Martin.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
,
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
,
364
Title
Field Guide to the Moist Forest Trees of Tanzania.
Publication
 
Author
Lovett J.C.; Ruffo C.K.; Gereau R.E.; Taplin J.R.D
Website
http://www.york.ac.uk/res/celp/webpages/projects/ecology/tree%20guide/introduction.htm
Publisher
Frontier
Year
0
ISBN
1-873070-33-0
Description
A lovely little book giving a basic identification guide to more than 650 species of trees growing in Tanzania. It is also available to view on the internet.
]
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood, and is also sometimes used as a famine food. The wood is also sometimes traded. The tree is sometimes planted as a shade-providing avenue tree, and is very ornamental because of its very large, handsome flowers which can be around 25cm in diameter[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
,
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.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Tropical Africa - Senegal, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, northern Angola, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania.

Habitat

Rain-forest; periodically flooded riparian formations with Uapaca heudelotii, Irvingia smithii; gallery forest; firm ground and mountain forest; also in swampy forests; at elevations up to 1,800 metres[
328
Title
African Flowering Plants Database
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php
Publisher
Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques.
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height25.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details



A slow-growing tree.
Trees respond well to coppicing when young, and can also be pollarded.
The pod splits open and throws the seeds out several metres from the mother tree. To obtain the seeds a search must be made on the ground
Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

Edible Uses

Seeds - cooked[
364
Title
Field Guide to the Moist Forest Trees of Tanzania.
Publication
 
Author
Lovett J.C.; Ruffo C.K.; Gereau R.E.; Taplin J.R.D
Website
http://www.york.ac.uk/res/celp/webpages/projects/ecology/tree%20guide/introduction.htm
Publisher
Frontier
Year
0
ISBN
1-873070-33-0
Description
A lovely little book giving a basic identification guide to more than 650 species of trees growing in Tanzania. It is also available to view on the internet.
]. They are roasted and eaten during times of famine, when better foods are not available[
364
Title
Field Guide to the Moist Forest Trees of Tanzania.
Publication
 
Author
Lovett J.C.; Ruffo C.K.; Gereau R.E.; Taplin J.R.D
Website
http://www.york.ac.uk/res/celp/webpages/projects/ecology/tree%20guide/introduction.htm
Publisher
Frontier
Year
0
ISBN
1-873070-33-0
Description
A lovely little book giving a basic identification guide to more than 650 species of trees growing in Tanzania. It is also available to view on the internet.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is straw-coloured or more yellowish with a pinkish tinge, turning a grayish brown on drying, and often marked with darker streaks; there is little or no distinction from sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight; when worked the wood has a green fig odour, but it is free of any distinctive taste. The wood is moderately hard, heavy, strong; it is rated as nondurable and is very liable to beetle and termite attack. It seasons well with little or no degrade except for end checking and moderate cup; once dry it is moderately stable in service. Green timber is difficult to saw because gummy sawdust clogs the teeth and blade; it works easily with hand and machine tools, though there is some tearing of the grain in planing. The wood is used for flooring, heavy construction (if treated), furniture components, joinery, shelving etc[
316
Title
Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607.
Publication
 
Author
Chudnoff. Martin.
Publisher
USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin.
Year
1984
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
,
364
Title
Field Guide to the Moist Forest Trees of Tanzania.
Publication
 
Author
Lovett J.C.; Ruffo C.K.; Gereau R.E.; Taplin J.R.D
Website
http://www.york.ac.uk/res/celp/webpages/projects/ecology/tree%20guide/introduction.htm
Publisher
Frontier
Year
0
ISBN
1-873070-33-0
Description
A lovely little book giving a basic identification guide to more than 650 species of trees growing in Tanzania. It is also available to view on the internet.
].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[
364
Title
Field Guide to the Moist Forest Trees of Tanzania.
Publication
 
Author
Lovett J.C.; Ruffo C.K.; Gereau R.E.; Taplin J.R.D
Website
http://www.york.ac.uk/res/celp/webpages/projects/ecology/tree%20guide/introduction.htm
Publisher
Frontier
Year
0
ISBN
1-873070-33-0
Description
A lovely little book giving a basic identification guide to more than 650 species of trees growing in Tanzania. It is also available to view on the internet.
].

Propagation

Seed - soaking the seed overnight prior to sowing will shorten germination time.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-11. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Baikiaea+insignis>

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