Gilbertiodendron dewevrei

Last updated

Gilbertiodendron dewevrei
Gilbertiodendron dewevrei 09.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Gilbertiodendron
Species:
G. dewevrei
Binomial name
Gilbertiodendron dewevrei
(De Wild.) J.Léonard [2]
Synonyms [3]

Macrolobium dewevreiDe Wild.
Gilbertiodendron quadrifolium(Harms) J.Léonard
Macrolobium dewevrei f. bijugisDe Wild.
Macrolobium dewevrei f. trijugisDe Wild.
Macrolobium quadrifoliumHarms

Contents

Gilbertiodendron dewevrei is a species of tree in the family Fabaceae, native to tropical rain forests in Central Africa. It is often the dominant tree species of the Guineo-Congolian rainforest. The timber is traded as limbali, and is used for construction, flooring and railway sleepers. It is also used for making boats, furniture, tool handles and joinery and for making charcoal. [4]

Description

Gilbertiodendron dewevrei is a large evergreen tree, reaching a height of up to 45 m (150 ft). The crown is dense and allows little light through. The unbuttressed trunk is cylindrical, with a diameter of up to 200 cm (7 ft) or more, the lower half usually being devoid of branches. The bark is rough, greyish-brown or yellowish brown, peeling off in large flakes. The leaves are pendulous and leathery, the underside being covered with papillae, and they often have a few glands near the margins. They are alternate and pinnate with two to five pairs of leaflets. Each leaflet is ovate or elliptical, the lower leaflets being smaller than the terminal ones; they have rounded or cordate bases and obtuse apices. [4]

The inflorescence is a loose terminal or axillary panicle clad with red hairs, the individual flowers being fragrant and having parts in fives. The sepals are purplish-red and fused at the base. The petals are unequal, one being deeply two-lobed and red, while the remainder are lanceolate. The fruits are flattened, woody pods, 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) long by 6 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) wide, with longitudinal ridges, and covered with short, dense, brown hairs. The seeds are shiny brown, oblong to triangular, flattened and up to 5 cm (2 in) in diameter. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Gilbertiodendron dewevrei is native to tropical forests in Central Africa, its range including Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and northern Angola. [4] It occurs in areas with an average annual precipitation of 1,600 to 1,900 mm (63 to 75 in) and a short dry season, at altitudes of up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). It often grows in nearly pure, single species stands. [5]

Ecology

The seeds of this tree are eaten by various mammals including rodents, pigs, duikers, African buffaloes, elephants, gorillas and humans. [6] The seeds are spread when the pods split explosively. The tree casts dense shade and this suppresses herbs and undergrowth on the forest floor, but is tolerated by the tree's own seedlings and saplings to the exclusion of other species. However, the pure stands of this tree are very sensitive to habitat disturbance; the felling of trees allows more light to reach the forest floor and the seedlings of G. dewevrei are outperformed by those of other, faster growing species of tree. [5]

This tree has an ectomycorrhizal relationship with fungi that grow on its roots, particularly Pulveroboletus bembae . [7] Several species of comet orchid grow on Gilbertiodendron dewevrei, including Angraecum distichum , [8] Angraecum subulatum , [9] Angraecum aporoides , [10] and Angraecum podochiloides , [11] and on fallen trees and branches, Angraecum gabonense . [12]

Uses

The timber has many uses in construction and building, including ship building, railway sleepers, mine props, flooring, joinery, doors and window frames, agricultural implements, garden furniture, turnery and toys. It is not generally used for cabinet work or firewood, but makes good charcoal. [5]

The seeds contain certain toxic substances which can be removed by treatment. They are used for human consumption but mostly when other foods are scarce, boiled, roasted, ground into flour for making porridge or fermented and wrapped in Megaphrynium macrostachyum leaves, and subsequently roasted. The bark, leaves and sap have uses in herbal medicine, and strips of the inner bark are used to make bands for carrying baskets. In the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, whole huts are constructed from this tree, with the addition of clay; the main supports are made from branches and partitions from smaller branches, tied together with string made from the inner bark, and the roof is thatched with the tree's leaves. [5]

Related Research Articles

Angraecopsis tridens is a species of plant in the family Orchidaceae. It is found in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Angraecum sanfordii</i> Species of orchid

Angraecum sanfordii is a species of plant in the family Orchidaceae. It is endemic to Cameroon, where it occurs on Mount Kupe and Mount Cameroon. It grows in submontane and montane habitat types. It is an epiphyte. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Bulbophyllum micropetalum is a species of plant in the family Orchidaceae. It is found in Cameroon and the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Calyptrochilum aurantiacum</i> Species of orchid

Calyptrochilum aurantiacum is a plant species in the family Orchidaceae. It is endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Polystachya kupensis is a species of plant in the family Orchidaceae. It is endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<i>Angraecum distichum</i> Species of orchid

Angraecum distichum is a species of comet orchid that is found across sub-Saharan and tropical Africa.

<i>Cyrtorchis</i> Genus of orchids

Cyrtorchis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family Orchidaceae native to Africa.

Angraecum aporoides is a species of comet orchid that can be found in Burundi, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Rwanda and São Tomé and Principe. It can be found in dense lowland forest from elevations of 20–2,400 m on Gilbertiodendron dewevrei trees.

Angraecum atlanticum is a species of comet orchid that can be found in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is known from three subpopulations; in Monte Alén National Park in Equatorial Guinea and in Moukalaba-Doudou National Park and Ivindo National Park in Gabon. It is found in epiphyte-rich submontane forest, and in the shrubby fringes rich in Burseraceae.

Angraecum bancoense is a species of comet orchid that can be found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe and Sierra Leone. It can be found with Calamus, on Lophira alata, Macrolebium or Blighia welwitschii.

Angraecum doratophyllum is a species of comet orchid that is endemic to São Tomé and Príncipe. On São Tomé, it can be found from elevations of 850–1,600 m, growing with Syzygium guineense or with Bulbophyllum lizae. On Príncipe, it is found in shrubby vegetation at around 300 m elevation. It is threatened by deforestation for agriculture and timber.

Angraecum gabonense is a species of comet orchid that can be found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

<i>Angraecum podochiloides</i> Species of orchid

Angraecum podochiloides is a species of comet orchid that can be found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria. It can be found in dense lowland forests on Gilbertiodendron dewevrei, and in humid forests at higher elevations or low montane forests. It is an epiphyte on Dialium corbisieri or in periodically flooded marshes with Guibourtia.

Angraecum pungens is a species of comet orchid that can be found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria. It is found in dense lowland forests, downstream from waterfalls, and on periodically flooded marshes with Oxystigma mannii, between elevations of 50–1,800 m. It also occurs on Terminalia catappa. It is threatened by habitat loss from agriculture and logging.

<i>Angraecum subulatum</i> Species of orchid

Angraecum subulatum is a species of comet orchid that can be found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. This species is found in lowland forests, especially those rich in Caesalpinioideae between 50 and 700 m elevation. It occurs in periodically inundated swampy forests with Raphia, Pandanus and Marantaceae, and on calcareous rock in shrubby vegetation. It has been recorded on high shaded branches of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei.

Erythrophleum ivorense is a species of leguminous tree in the genus Erythrophleum found in the rainforests of tropical West and Central Africa. The tree has many uses; the timber is used for heavy construction, for making charcoal and for firewood, the bark is used for tanning and in traditional medicine, and both bark and seeds are poisonous and used for hunting.

<i>Brachystegia laurentii</i> Species of legume

Brachystegia laurentii, a plant in the family Fabaceae, is a species of large tree found in western Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. It has a dense, umbrella-shaped crown. The wood is known as bomanga and has many uses in building and construction.

Julbernardia seretii, commonly known as the Congo zebrawood, is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae. It is found in tropical West and Central Africa.

Parkia bicolor, the African locust-bean, is a species of flowering plant, a tree in the family Fabaceae. It is native to tropical West and Central Africa. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, swampland, woodland and savannah.

Polystachya bifida is a species of flowering plant in the family Orchidaceae, native from south-east Nigeria to west-central tropical Africa. It was first described by John Lindley in 1862.

References

  1. ↑ Hills, R. (2019). "Gilbertiodendron dewevrei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T62026028A62026030. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T62026028A62026030.en . Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "Gilbertiodendron dewevrei (Harms) J. Leonard". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "Gilbertiodendron dewevrei (De Wild.) J.Léonard". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Lemmens, R.H.M.J.; Louppe, D.; Oteng-Amoako, A.A. Timbers 2. PROTA. pp. 356–362. ISBN   978-92-9081-495-5.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Fern, Ken (13 June 2019). "Gilbertiodendron dewevrei". Useful Tropical Plants. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  6. ↑ Blake S, Fay JM (1997). "Seed production by Gilbertiodendron dewevrei in the Nouabale-Ndoki National Park, Congo, and its implications for large mammals". Journal of Tropical Ecology. 13 (6): 885–91. doi:10.1017/S0266467400011056. JSTOR   2560244.
  7. ↑ Degreef J, De Kesel A (2009). "Two new African Pulveroboletus with ornamented spores". Mycotaxon. 108: 54–65. doi: 10.5248/108.53 .
  8. ↑ Simo, M. & Stévart, T. (2014). "Angraecum distichum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T16222565A16222887. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T16222565A16222887.en .
  9. ↑ Simo, M. & Stévart, T. (2014). "Angraecum subulatum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T16222698A16222912. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T16222698A16222912.en .
  10. ↑ Simo, M. & Stévart, T. (2014). "Angraecum aporoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T16222400A16222877. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T16222400A16222877.en .
  11. ↑ Simo, M. & Stévart, T. (2014). "Angraecum podochiloides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T16222589A16222892. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T16222589A16222892.en .
  12. ↑ Simo, M. & Stévart, T. (2014). "Angraecum gabonense". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T16222649A16222902. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T16222649A16222902.en .

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.