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Useful Tropical Plants

Klainedoxa gabonensis

Pierre ex Engl.

Irvingiaceae


A very variable aggregate species that has at times been treated as several distinct species[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

+ Synonyms

Klainedoxa buesgenii Engl.

Klainedoxa cuprea Tiegh.

Klainedoxa dybowskii Tiegh.

Klainedoxa lanceifolia Vermoesen

Klainedoxa lecomtei Tiegh.

Klainedoxa macrocarpa Tiegh.

Klainedoxa oblongifolia (Engl.) Vermoesen

Klainedoxa oblongifolia Stapf ex Broun & R.E.Massey

Klainedoxa ovalifolia Vermoesen

Klainedoxa pachyphylla Mildbr.

Klainedoxa spinosa Tiegh.

Klainedoxa zenkeri Tiegh.

Common Name:

Klainedoxa gabonensis
Leaves
Photograph by: Ehoarn Bidault
Creative Commons License
Klainedoxa gabonensis Klainedoxa gabonensis Klainedoxa gabonensis Klainedoxa gabonensis Klainedoxa gabonensis Klainedoxa gabonensis

General Information

Klainedoxa gabonensis is one of the largest trees of the humid African rain-forest[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. An evergreen tree, it has an open, spreading crown and grows up to 40 - 50 metres tall[
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.
,
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The bole is straight, up to 120cm in diameter, and can be unbranched for 20 - 25 metres with narrow, spreading buttresses up to 5 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.
]. Young trees have long spines up to 12cm long on the trunk[
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.
]. At the end of the rainy season the tree puts on a spectacular flush of brilliant red new leaf. Flowering takes place at the same time and the crown is covered with a purplish hue[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The tree has many uses for the local people, providing an excellent edible oil-rich seed, a range of medicinal applications and a high quality wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

405
Title
Irvingiaceae: Flora of the World Part 1: 1 - 25
Publication
 
Author
Harris. D.J.
Publisher
Australian Biological Resources Study; Canberra
Year
1999
ISBN
0 642 56800 6
Description
A monograph of the Irvingiaceae which includes some plant uses.

Range

Western tropical Africa - Guinea-Bissau to Uganda, south to the Congo.

Habitat

Found in a wide variety of habitats including river banks in savannah regions; Parinari excelsa woodland; forest associations on dry land; semi-deciduous rain-forest; margins of seasonally flooded forest at elevations of 200 - 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

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height40.00 m
Cultivation StatusSemi-cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A tree of the humid rainforests[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Where forest is being cleared for agriculture the tree is usually left standing and becomes a conspicuous feature of the landscape. Its presence in secondary vegetation is a fair indication of previous occupation[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Edible Uses

The kernels are much relished for human use[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. They are eaten fresh or roasted, or crushed to a paste, and enter into cooking in numerous ways[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
,
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The paste is rich and oily, and is mixed with other foods as a gravy or relish[
301
Title
Cornucopia II
Publication
 
Author
Facciola. S.
Publisher
Kampong Publications, California.
Year
1998
ISBN
0-9628087-2-5
Description
The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
]. The kernel prepared as a vegetable butter is a substitute for shea (karite) butter (Vitellaria paradoxa)[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The seed contains about 65 % oil consisting, on a dry weight basis, of myristic acid 42%, oleic acid 22%, lauric acid 16%, palmitic acid 11%, and others[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].The seed is contained in a usually 5-angled fruit, 5 - 8 cm long, each angle containing one hard woody nut, and the whole in a fibrous covering containing some gummy substance[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Medicinal

The bark is analgesic332]. A preparation is taken by mouth for treating venereal disease, sterility and impotence[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Applied externally, it is ground to a fine powder, then mixed with clay and water for rubbing onto rheumatic joints. The pulped-up bark is prepared as an ointment with palm-oil for application to areas of rheumatism, and a bark-decoction is put in baths and lotions for buccal infections, small-pox and chickenpox[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Tannin is reported to be present in both the bark and the root[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

The young leaves are usually characterised by the presence of long linear stipules which are soon shed. The young stipuled leaves are eaten with palm kernels as an aphrodisiac[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The leaves are eaten with vegetables, oil, salt, fish or meat as a stomachic, and are used as an analgesic for topical or internal application in various cases of pain[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
A trace of alkaloid is reported present in the leaves[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Other Uses

The branches and the stems of young trees are flexible and are used to make spring traps[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

The heart-wood is attractively coloured reddish to golden brown with wide dark veining, and often with zigzag markings; it is not clearly demarcated from the thin band of light brown sapwood. The texture is fine; the grain straight or interlocked, sometimes wavy. The wood is very heavy; very hard; elastic; very durable, even in contact with the soil, being resistant to fungi, dry wood borers and termites but liable to marine borer attack. The wood is very difficult to dry, it seasons slowly with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is poorly stable in service. Although it does not contain silice, the wood has a fairly high blunting effect because of its hardness, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good but require pre-boring; gluing is poor. The wood an be used in heavy construction, including purposes in contact with the ground or fresh water; it is also used for railway sleepers, heavy flooring, poles etc[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
,
848
Title
Tropix 7
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://tropix.cirad.fr/en
Publisher
CIRAD
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line guide to the timbers of 245 species of trees.
]. It can be made into attractive furniture. Traditionally, poles are often used in hut-construction, though the wood is generally too hard for cutting with domestic implements, so that its local usages are very limited[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. In primitive dwellings in Sierra Leone, the buttresses are sometimes used to make doors[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The wood is deemed a good firewood[
332
Title
The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
Burkil. H. M.
Publisher
Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
Year
1985 - 2004
ISBN
 
Description
Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-13. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Klainedoxa+gabonensis>

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