Common Name:

General Information

Isoberlinia scheffleri is an evergreen tree that can grow 30 - 46 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for up to 18 metres, it can be 120 - 150cm in iameter, with small buttresses[, , ]. The stems are often galleried by the larvae of a Prosopocera borer[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally and also traded[].
The plant has a small native range and is exploited for its timber. It is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

East tropical Africa - northeast Tanzania.

Habitat

Rain-forest, where it can be common and locally dominant; at elevations from 460 - 1,680 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	35.00 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Ripe pods are held above the canopy and burst to release the seeds in sunshine with a noise like the clapping of hands[].
Persistent fallen pods are found under the tree[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The seedpods can be used for shoe soles[].

The heartwood is reddish-brown with irregular darker and lighter bands; it is clearly demarcated from the 7 - 10cm wide band of whitish sapwood. The texture is coarse; the grain straight or slightly wavy; green timber has an unpleasant odour; veins exude a grayish gum on freshly-cut cross sections. The wood is hard; the heartwood is nondurable and susceptible to termite attack. The wood seasons rather slowly, with negligible checking but there is moderate degrade due to bow and spring. It saws and machines well and dresses to a smooth finish. Machined timber tends to distort during storage due to residual stresses after drying. It is used for purposes such as heavy construction, flooring, tool handles[, ].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed -

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