| | CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification and information retrieval |
Nomenclature. Family: MALVACEAE. Other trade relevant species: Arten der Gattung Pterygota sind in Westafrika (P. bequaertii, P. macrocarpa), in Südostasien (P. alata, P. horsfieldii) und in Südamerika (P. amazonica, P. brasiliensis, P. columbiana) verbreitet. Further trade and local names: Pterygota bequaertii, P. macrocarpa: akodiakédé, bofo ouale, bontue, pohoure, waré (CI); Pterygota (GB); awari, kyere, wawampe (GH); efok, kion (CM); kefe, poroporo, oporipo (NG); aké (GA); ikame (CD); kakende (CF). Pterygota alata, P. horsfieldii: PNG Oak, white tulip oak (PG); mabin (ID); kangsar, melebu, menuang (MY). Pterygota amazonica, P. brasiliensis, P. columbiana: pau do rey (BR); cajeto (CO); zapato (CO,VE); paujilruro (PE). Code according to DIN EN 13556: PQXX.
CITES(EU) status of protection. Not protected.
Similar timbers. Easily mistaken for Gonystylus spp. (CITES II).
Geographic distribution. Indomalesia (Pterygota alata, P. horsfieldii), tropical Africa (Pterygota bequaertii, P. macrocarpa), tropical South America (Pterygota amazonica, P. brasiliensis, P. columbiana).
Growth rings, colour, grain, etc. Growth ring boundaries distinct, or indistinct or absent. On sites with a seasonal climate growth increments are often pronounced, demarcated by dark zones (practically void of axial parenchyma). Heartwood basically yellow to white or grey. Sapwood similar to heartwood colour. In older trees a brown, streaky inner heart up to 30 cm in diameter is quite common. The high rays give the timber a striking lustrous fleck figure on accurately quarter-sawn stock. The frequent axial parenchyma bands, of a rather dull appearance under incident light, can be recognized as subtle V-shaped markings on flat-sawn, and as fine lines on radial surfaces. Wood of medium weight (0.46–0.55–0.63 g/cm3). Interlocked grain present, or absent.
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 (95–180–240 µm); very few (1–4). Tyloses absent. Other deposits in heartwood vessels (pores) present (light in colour, infrequent).
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma present; banded and not banded. Parenchyma bands not (only) marginal; wide; forming a reticulate pattern with rays, or much wider than rays. Other macroscopically visible types of axial parenchyma: diffuse-in-aggregates and vasicentric.
Rays. Rays narrow (but easily visible already with the naked eye). Large rays some commonly less than 1 mm high, or commonly between 1 mm and 5 mm high.
Storied structure. Storied structure absent. In the wood of Pterygota species only the axial parenchyma shows a storied structure; this type of storeying is rather inconspicuous and can be observed only when observing carefully with a higher magnification hand lens.
Resin canals. Normal resin canals absent.
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent (the bluish colour is based on reflection the ultraviolet light, not on fluorescence). Water extract not fluorescent; colour shade of water extract colourless to brown. Ethanol extract not fluorescent; colour shade of ethanol extract colourless to brown. Froth test positive. Splinter burns to full ash, or to partial ash; colour of ash white to grey.
Additional information. See also: Informationsdienst Holz Merkblatt Nr. 8. • Transverse section + wood surface. Tangential surface, natural size. Transverse section ca. 10x. Pterygota spp. (Kasah, koto).
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’.
