Prioria balsamifera
(Vermoesen) Breteler
Fabaceae
Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum (Vermoesen) Harms
Pterygopodium balsamiferum Vermoesen
Common Name:
General Information
Prioria balsamifera is an evergreen tree with a spreading crown and open foliage that can grow up to 55 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for up to 35 metres, 70 - 110cm in diameter, and is free of buttresses[
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.
,
898- Title
- A Revision of Prioria, including Gossweilerodendron, Kingiodendron, Oxystigma and Pterygopodium (Leguminosae - Caesa
- Publication
- Wageningen Agricultural University Papers 99-3
- Author
- Breteler F.J.
- Publisher
- Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
- 90-5782-045-5
- Description
- A treatment of the genus Prioria (Fabaceae), uniting the genera Gossweilerodendron, Kingiodendron, Oxystigma and Pterygopodium under Prioria.
].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its timber and resin, which are used locally, whilst the wood is also traded.
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[
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].
Known Hazards
The sawdust is sometimes irritant[
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.
].
Botanical References
898- Title
- A Revision of Prioria, including Gossweilerodendron, Kingiodendron, Oxystigma and Pterygopodium (Leguminosae - Caesa
- Publication
- Wageningen Agricultural University Papers 99-3
- Author
- Breteler F.J.
- Publisher
- Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
- 90-5782-045-5
- Description
- A treatment of the genus Prioria (Fabaceae), uniting the genera Gossweilerodendron, Kingiodendron, Oxystigma and Pterygopodium under Prioria.
Range
Western tropical Africa - Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, DR Congo, northern Angola.
Habitat
Rain-forest; forest on firm ground, at elevations up to 600 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 | 50.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Not known
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
A copal resin is obtained from the stem[
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.
]. It is used locally as an illuminant[
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.
]. Copal resin is a hard resin obtained from various tropical trees.
The heartwood is yellow-brown to light brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the 5 - 10cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight or interlocked; the odour peppery. The wood is light in weight; strong; light to moderately hard; moderately durable, being fairly resistant to fungi but susceptible to dry wood borers and termites. It seasons fairly quickly, with only a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dry it is stable in service. The wood works well with ordinary tools, though resin exudations can clog the tools; nailing and screwing are good; gluing is correct, but care needs to be taken because of the resin; it takes a good polish and finishes well. The wood has a range of applications, including being used for tabletops, cheap furniture, light construction work, boxes and crates, joinery, panelling and blockboard[
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.
,
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.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
