| | CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification and information retrieval |
Nomenclature. Family: MELIACEAE. Synonym(s): E. macrocarpa, E. roburoides, E. thomasii. Further trade and local names: assié (FR, CM); bada, mébrou, zuiri (CI); assi, ombolobolo, mouragalamando, kos-kosi (GA); efou-konkonti (GH); muyoyu (UG); timbi, assang-assié (CM); kalungi, m'vovo, tshimai rouge/noir (CD); akuk, ogipogo, ubilesan (NG); momboyo (CG); njeli (LR). Code according to DIN EN 13556: ENUT.
CITES(EU) status of protection. Not protected.
Similar timbers. Easily mistaken for Swietenia spp. (CITES II).
Geographic distribution. Tropical Africa. Tropical regions of West-, Central and East Africa (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabun, Zaïre, Angola, Uganda).
Growth rings, colour, grain, etc. Growth ring boundaries distinct (demarcated by marginal parenchyma bands, usually just visible to the unaided eye). Heartwood basically brown to red. Sapwood distinct from heartwood colour (of medium width). Sapwood light greyish to pinkish brown, heartwood fairly uniform light to dark reddish brown, darkening somewhat upon exposure. Odour indistinct or absent. Wood of medium weight (0.45–0.59–0.70 g/cm3). Interlocked grain present (producing an attractive stripe or roe figure on radial faces).
Hardwood vs softwood. Vessels (pores) present (= hardwood).
Vessels (pores). Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels (pores) in multiples; commonly in short (2–3 vessels) radial rows. Vessels large (140–230–295 µm); very few (3–6). Tyloses absent. Other deposits in heartwood vessels (pores) present (dark reddish brown to nearly black).
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma present; banded. Parenchyma bands exclusively marginal (or seemingly marginal); narrow. Other macroscopically visible types of axial parenchyma: diffuse-in-aggregates (in short wavy bandlets between marginal bands, very distinct as compared to the somewhat blurry parenchyma in the otherwise similar Sapele).
Rays. Rays narrow (generally narrower than in the otherwise very similar Sapele). Large rays commonly less than 1 mm high.
Storied structure. Storied structure present, or absent (storied ray present in some specimens (ca. 40%), absent in others). Tiers regular (horizontal or slightly inclined), or irregular; 2 per axial millimetre.
Resin canals. Normal resin canals absent (resin canals occasionally present are of traumatic origin).
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract not fluorescent; colour shade of water extract colourless to brown, or red. Ethanol extract fluorescent (weakly yellowish); colour shade of ethanol extract colourless to brown, or red. Froth test positive (a fine ring of foam persists). Splinter burns to partial ash (under emission of heavy smoke); colour of ash white to grey.
Additional information. See also: Informationsdienst Holz Merkblatt Nr. 1. • Transverse section + wood surface. Transverse section ca. 10x. Radial surface, natural size. Entadrophragma utile (Sipo, Utile).
The interactive key allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting specified attributes, summaries of attributes within groups of taxa, and geographical distribution.
Cite this publication as: ‘Richter, H.G., Gembruch, K., and Koch, G. 2014 onwards. CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th April 2023. www.delta-intkey.com’.
