Cynometra alexandri
C.H.Wright
Fabaceae
Cynometra sankuruensis Vermoesen
Common Name:
General Information
Cynometra alexandri is an evergreen tree with a wide, flat-topped crown; it can grow from 10 - 50 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for 5 - 26 metres, though it can branch from low down; it is from 20 - 150cm in diameter and with extensive thin buttresses near the base that can be up to 8 metres long and several metres high[
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.
,
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood which is used locally and also traded. Known in the trade as 'Ugandan Ironwood', it is a heavy timber of some importance[
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
]. It is sometimes planted as an amenity tree to provide shade[
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
Range
Tropical Africa - DR Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania.
Habitat
Rain forest on firm ground; usually gregarious; at elevations from 700 - 1,200 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
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 30.00 m |
| Pollinators | Bees |
| Cultivation Status | Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
The flowers are sweetly scented[
1355- Title
- Plants of the World online
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://powo.science.kew.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line database giving detailed descriptions of almost 40,000 species of plants (as of 2018), almost 25,000 images and a list of almost 850,000 plant names. A truly excellent resource and still growing.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Agroforestry Uses:
The tree is used for soil conservation[
].
Other Uses
The heartwood is a dull reddish-brown with darker markings; it is clearly defined from the grayish sapwood, which turns pale yellow upon exposure. The texture is fine; the grain usually interlocked; without lustrr; sometimes figured. The wood is very heavy and hard, being very resistant to abrasion; the heartwood is rated as durable and highly resistant to termite attack. It dries slowly, with a tendency to surface and end checking, but with little warp. It is fairly difficult to work with hand and machine tools; has a rather severe blunting effect on cutters; turns very well; has moderate steam-bending properties. It is used for purposes such as industrial and heavy-duty flooring, heavy construction including marine work, railroad crossties, mining props, posts 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.
,
,
610- Title
- Flora of Tropical East Africa
- Publication
-
- Author
- Beentje H.J.
- Website
- http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=396814
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 2002
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Available on-line, a modern flora of East Africa.
].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
