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Useful Tropical Plants

Lophira alata

Banks ex C.F.Gaertn.

Ochnaceae

+ Synonyms

Lophira africana Banks ex G.Don

Lophira barteri Tiegh.

Lophira macrophylla Tiegh.

Lophira procera A.Chev.

Lophira simplex G.Don

Lophira tholloni Tiegh.

Common Name: Niam Tree

Lophira alata
Tree
Photograph by: Scamperdale
Creative Commons License
Lophira alata Lophira alata Lophira alata Lophira alata Lophira alata Lophira alata

General Information

Niam tree is a very large tree growing from 40 - 60 metres tall with a long, narrow crown of steeply ascending branches[
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 fluted bole is long, straight and clear, it can be unbranched for up to 30 metres and 120 - 180 cm in diameter, with large buttresses[
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.
,
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.
].
One of the giant trees of the African rain-forest, it is also one of the most exploited species for wood in West Africa, providing a strong, very durable, heavy construction timber[
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 also harvested from the wild for its seed, which is used to extract a good quality edible oil[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].
This species has been listed as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List because of the large scale destruction of wet evergreen forest throughout its range; the over-exploitation of this species as a timber; slow rates of growth; and poor regeneration levels in less than optimum conditions[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. The plant is common and widespread in Cameroon, however, where it regenerates easily in many areas and does not appear threatened[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

Western tropical Africa - Guinea to Zaire.

Habitat

Evergreen moist rain-forest at elevations of 550 - 1,300 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.
]. Evergreen and moist deciduous forests, in freshwater swamp forests, and close to riverbanks[
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.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusVulnerable
Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height40.00 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Grows best in a sunny position[
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.
]. Plants are sensitive to drought[
402
Title
Contribution to an evaluation of tree species using the new CITES Listing Criteria
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/species/tree_study/
Publisher
UNEP-WCMC; Cambridge.
Year
1999
ISBN
 
Description
A document produced by UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre in 1999. It contains fact sheets on more than 200 tree species from around the globe.
].
It is estimated that is takes 220 years for a tree to reach a girth of 2.7 metres in Nigeria[
402
Title
Contribution to an evaluation of tree species using the new CITES Listing Criteria
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/species/tree_study/
Publisher
UNEP-WCMC; Cambridge.
Year
1999
ISBN
 
Description
A document produced by UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre in 1999. It contains fact sheets on more than 200 tree species from around the globe.
].
Light gaps in the forest are necessary for successful regeneration, as seed germination does not occur in shady understorey[
402
Title
Contribution to an evaluation of tree species using the new CITES Listing Criteria
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/species/tree_study/
Publisher
UNEP-WCMC; Cambridge.
Year
1999
ISBN
 
Description
A document produced by UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre in 1999. It contains fact sheets on more than 200 tree species from around the globe.
].

Edible Uses

The fruits can be used to make an edible oil[
402
Title
Contribution to an evaluation of tree species using the new CITES Listing Criteria
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/species/tree_study/
Publisher
UNEP-WCMC; Cambridge.
Year
1999
ISBN
 
Description
A document produced by UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre in 1999. It contains fact sheets on more than 200 tree species from around the globe.
].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is a pioneer species and is representative of a disturbed forest[
402
Title
Contribution to an evaluation of tree species using the new CITES Listing Criteria
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://sea.unep-wcmc.org/species/tree_study/
Publisher
UNEP-WCMC; Cambridge.
Year
1999
ISBN
 
Description
A document produced by UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre in 1999. It contains fact sheets on more than 200 tree species from around the globe.
].

Other Uses

An oil obtained from the seed is used as a hair oil and is also suitable for making soap[
46
Title
Dictionary of Economic Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Uphof. J. C. Th.
Publisher
Weinheim
Year
1959
ISBN
-
Description
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
].

The heartwood is dark red, chocolate brown, or purple brown with conspicuous white deposits in the vessels; it is clearly demarcated from the 2 - 5cm wide band of pale pink sapwood; there is an intermediate zone between the heartwood and sapwood. The texture is coarse; the grain usually interlocked; lustre low; there is no characteristic odour or taste. The wood is very dense; very hard; very heavy; elastic; very durable, being resistant to fungi, dry wood borers, termites and toredo. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is poorly stable in service. It is very difficult to work with hand and machine tools; there is a severe blunting effect if machined when dry so stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; it can be dressed to a smooth finish, though there can be difficulties due to the interlocked grain; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; the gluing properties are usually good for interior purposes, but care must be taken because of the dense wood. It is resistant to acids and has good weathering properties. It is used for heavy, durable construction work, harbour work such as jetties, heavy-duty flooring, parquet flooring, railroad crossties[
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.
,
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
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.
]. Because the wood is rich in silica, and is resistant to marine borers, it is favoured for use in jetties[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe since the seed has a short viability[
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.
]. Even sown fresh, germination rates are usually less than 50%, dropping to 5% after 3 months[
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.
]. Germination takes 3 - 5 weeks[
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.
]. To improve growth in the nursery, it is recommended to add soil from under an established tree to the substrate to ensure development of mycorrhizal fungi[
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.
].
Air layering is possible. A rooting percentage of marcots of more than 60% has been obtained with cow dung as substrate and IBA (0.8%) as growth hormone[
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.
].
Stem cuttings are also possible[
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. 2024-10-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Lophira+alata>

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