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Useful Tropical Plants

Cylicodiscus gabunensis

Harms

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Cyrtoxiphus staudtii Harms

Erythrophleum gabunense Taub.

Erythrophleum letestui A.Chev. ex Baker f.

Piptadenia gabunensis (Harms) Roberty

Common Name:

Cylicodiscus gabunensis
Seedpod
Photograph by: Tariq Stévart
Creative Commons License
Cylicodiscus gabunensis Cylicodiscus gabunensis Cylicodiscus gabunensis

General Information

Cylicodiscus gabunensis is a tree that can be evergreen or deciduous depending upon the climate in which it grows. It has a spreading, hemispherical crown that can become very large, and can grow up to 60 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 200cm or more in diameter and unbranched for up to 30 metres; it is swollen at the base and sometimes slightly fluted. The tree is armed with brown thorns in the seedling stage[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
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.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of soap and wood. The wood is valued, especially for its durability, and is also often traded internationally.

Known Hazards

The bark is used as a fish poison[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Botanical References

736
Title
Flora of West Tropical Africa
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=2025
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online flora, not yet complet (2012). Very comprehensive as regards to species covered, but the information on each species is often rather terse.

Range

West tropical Africa - Cote D'Ivoire to Cameroon, south to northern Angola.

Habitat

Evergreen and deciduous forest; sometimes common; at elevations from 400-450 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.
]. Deciduous as well as evergreen forest, but is most abundant in well-drained sites in moist semi-deciduous forest[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitTree
Height45.00 m
Growth RateSlow
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Although the mature plant grows up into the sun, young plants grow well in the shade of the forest[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. Prefers a deep, moist loamy sand with good drainage[
484
Title
West African Forests and Forestry
Publication
 
Author
Unwin A.H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
T. Fisher Unwin Ltd.; London
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
Quite extensive information on some of the trees of West Africa. The book can be downloaded from the Internet
].
The tree probably grows slowly[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
One big tree may provide 15 - 20 cubic metres of usable timber[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The winged seeds, which are dispersed by wind, are eaten by several primate species. Natural regeneration is often sparse[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The logs sink in water and therefore cannot be transported by river[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
484
Title
West African Forests and Forestry
Publication
 
Author
Unwin A.H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
T. Fisher Unwin Ltd.; London
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
Quite extensive information on some of the trees of West Africa. The book can be downloaded from the Internet
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

A bark decoction, administered by enema, is used to treat stomach-ache. It is drunk, or used in a bath, to bring relief from pain and also as a treatment against vomiting, venereal diseases, malaria, psoriasis and rheumatism[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

A macerate of the leaves is used as a remedy for migraine[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Flavonoids, saponins, tannins, polyphenols, coumarins, triterpenes and/or sterols, and reducing sugars were detected in the ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark. The extract also showed antimicrobial activity against, among others, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus cereus[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
An ethyl acetate extract of the bark has shown significant anti-diarrhoeal effect[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The bark showed significant antiplasmodial activity, which supports the use against malaria in traditional medicine[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

It is a moderately fast-growing, shade-bearing, soil-protecting and soil-improving tree[
484
Title
West African Forests and Forestry
Publication
 
Author
Unwin A.H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
T. Fisher Unwin Ltd.; London
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
Quite extensive information on some of the trees of West Africa. The book can be downloaded from the Internet
].

Other Uses

The bark is rich in saponins and is used as a soap substitute[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].

The heartwood is yellowish brown, often with a slight green tinge, on exposure darkening to reddish brown with a yellowish or greenish tinge; it is distinctly demarcated from the 5 - 8cm wide layer of pale pink sapwood. The grain is interlocked; texture moderately coarse; the wood is often slightly striped and lustrous, with an unpleasant smell when freshly cut[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The wood is very heavy and hard; very durable, showing excellent natural resistance to wood decay fungi and is also to dry-wood borer, marine borer and termite attacks. The sapwood is liable to fungi and powder-post beetles and should be removed before the wood is processed. The resistance to wood-rotting fungi is due to the presence of natural compounds such as isookanin and okanin[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. It is difficult to saw and work, with some dulling effect on cutting edges, and force is required - stellite-tipped saws are recommended. It is difficult to obtain a smooth finish because of the interlocked grain; planing shows best results at a cutting angle of 15°; the wood holds screws and nails well, but pre-boring is needed; the gluing, staining, polishing and painting properties are satisfactory, but for optimal polishing effect the use of a filler is required; turning gives good results. The wood is not suitable for veneer or plywood production[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. The wood is used for heavy construction including marine construction, sluice gates and bridges, heavy flooring, joinery, vehicle bodies, mine props, shipbuilding especially for decking, marine piling, furniture including garden furniture, sporting goods, agricultural implements, railway sleepers, carving and turning[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
,
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.
].
The wood is used for fuel and for charcoal production[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
]. A hot-burning wood, though it is inclined to crackle and make sparks[
484
Title
West African Forests and Forestry
Publication
 
Author
Unwin A.H.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
T. Fisher Unwin Ltd.; London
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
Quite extensive information on some of the trees of West Africa. The book can be downloaded from the Internet
].

Propagation

Seed - it does not show dormancy, and germinates in 5 - 12 days[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cylicodiscus+gabunensis>

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