Common Name:

General Information

Berlinia bracteosa is sometimes a shrub only 2 metres tall, or more commonly a tree with a broad or a globulous crown; it can grow 8 - 35 metres tall. The bole is often short and deformed, up to 1 metre in diameter, sometimes with weak buttresses at the base[, ].
The tree is often harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally and also exported.
Berlinia bracteosa is known to be common in much of its range and it also occurs within the protected areas network. However, the level of deforestation and natural habitat degradation in some of the areas in which it occurs are high, indicating that botanical surveys and monitoring of the species is required. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - southeast Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, western DR Congo, northern Angola.

Habitat

Humid bottoms; river banks; gregarious but in stands; swampy forest; disturbed forest; forest edges in savannah[]. Lowland forest, forest edges and clearings, along rivers, streams and mangrove edge; at elevations up to 650 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Occasionally planted to provide shade in villages[].
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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally in central Africa[].

Other Uses

A white resin exudes from wounds in the bark[]. No uses are mentioned.

The heartwood is pinkish-brown with purple or dark brown veins and frequent resin canals; it is clearly demarcated from the 10 - 15cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight or interlocked. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately hard, moderately durable, being moderately resistant to fungi and termites and resistant to dry wood borers. It seasons somewhat slowly with only a slight risk of distortion or checking; once dry it is poorly to moderately stable in service. It works well with normal tools; nailing and screwing are good, but pre-boring is required; gluing is correct. The wood has many applications, including for interior and exterior panelling and joinery, cabinet making, furniture, light carpentry, turnery, flooring and veneer[]. 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[].

Propagation

Seed -

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