Common Name:

General Information

Tetraberlinia bifoliolata is an evergreen tree with a rather open and narrow crown, becoming broader in large trees; it can grow from 5 - 50 metres tall. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for 20 metres, from 5 - 100cm in diameter (occasionally to 150cm), sometimes widening at the base[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally and also traded. If one considers that this species is fairly closely related to Tetraberlinia tubmaniana (the wood of which has excellent properties for peeling and pulp), and that the woods of the two species are very similar, this species could become an important timber for Gabon and Cameroon. Exploitation might be facilitated by the occurrence of this species in large and dense stands, while regeneration may be fast because trees of all stages are usually present and growth is fast[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon. Western Congo, western DR Congo, northern Angola.

Habitat

Dry-land rain-forest; sometimes in riverine forest where the temporary inundations do not last for very long; only on nutrient-poor soils; occasionally occurring very commonly and may even become the most important tree species over large forest[].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	40.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is pinkish-brown to dark brown; it is not clearly demarcated from the 2 - 12cm wide band of white to yellowish sapwood that becomes pink to yellowish as it dries. The texture is medium; the grain straight or interlocked; there are distinct growth rings. The wood is light to moderately heavy, soft to moderately hard, not very durable, having some resistance to fungi but susceptible to dry wood borers and termites. The wood seasons somewhat slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. The wood can be worked with ordinary tools, though there is a risk of grain tearing in the presence of interlocked grain - a reduced cutting angle is recommended; nailing and screwing are poor; gluing is correct. The wood has many potentials, it is used in local construction and is suitable for joinery, parquetry, light carpentry, panelling, boxes and crates, veneer, plywood etc[, ].

Propagation

Seed - germinates immediately after falling from the tree[].

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