Tetraberlinia tubmaniana

Family

Caesalpiniaceae (Leguminosae - Caesalpinioideae)

Synonyms

Vernacular names

Origin and geographic distribution

Tetraberlinia tubmaniana is only known from Liberia, but it may also be present in adjoining parts of Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire.

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Uses

The wood, traded as ‘gola’, ‘ekop’ or ‘sikon’, is mainly used for furniture, veneer and plywood. It is locally used for construction and canoes. The wood is suitable for light flooring, joinery, interior trim, vehicle bodies, ladders, toys, novelties, boxes, crates, tool handles, turnery, hardboard and particle board.

Production and international trade

The wood of Tetraberlinia tubmaniana is traded internationally, but statistics are not available.

Properties

The heartwood is pale reddish brown, darkening upon exposure; it is distinctly demarcated from the up to 5 cm wide, pale pinkish brown or greyish sapwood. The grain is usually interlocked, texture medium to coarse. Quarter-sawn surfaces show a silver-grain figure.
The wood is medium-weight, with a density of 610–680 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content. It dries fairly slowly with a tendency to produce end and surface checks, and therefore mild kiln-drying schedules must be used. The shrinkage rates are moderately high, from green to oven dry 4.4–5.6% radial and 5.4–10.2% tangential.
At 12% moisture content, the modulus of rupture is 114–129 N/mm², modulus of elasticity 13,800–17,900 N/mm², compression parallel to grain 62–65 N/mm², Brinell side hardness 20–21 N/mm² and Brinell end hardness 49 N/mm².
The wood is easy to saw, and works well with hand and machine tools. During planing of radial surfaces, some picking up may occur due to interlocked grain. The wood takes nails fairly well, but splitting near the edges may occur. It glues well. A filler is necessary to obtain nicely polished surfaces. The wood slices and peels very well. Staining with iron compounds may occur.
The heartwood is only moderately durable. It is liable to attacks by fungi. The sapwood is susceptible to Lyctus attacks. The heartwood is moderately resistant to impregnation with preservatives, but the sapwood is permeable.
Experiments have shown that excellent pulp can be obtained from the wood. The pulp bleaches well and can be made into very good paper. The wood fibre cells are (0.7–)1.2–1.7 mm long and 13–22 μm wide.

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Description

Evergreen, small to medium-sized tree up to 30(–42) m tall; bole branchless for up to 23 m, straight and cylindrical, up to 125 cm in diameter, base without buttresses but often somewhat swollen or with to 50 cm high root swellings; bark surface smooth, with lenticels and some horizontal lines, shallowly fissured in older trees, grey to bright brown, inner bark fibrous, pale to bright brown, yellowish brown or pinkish brown; crown fairly open; twigs short-hairy, becoming glabrous. Leaves alternate, paripinnately compound with (1–)3–6(–7) pairs of leaflets; stipules free, slightly obliquely ovate, 0.5–1.5 cm long, caducous; petiole 2–6 mm long, rachis up to 8(–13) cm long, grooved above, hairy; leaflets opposite, sessile, slightly obliquely rhombic to elliptical, 1–8 cm × 0.5–4 cm, base usually rounded, apex usually short-acuminate, margins entire, leathery, nearly glabrous, pinnately veined. Inflorescence a terminal or axillary panicle 3–9 cm long, brown hairy; bracts ovate, circular or obovate, 2.5–5 mm × 2.5–4 mm, caducous. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, 5-merous, sweetly fragrant; pedicel 2–4(–5) mm long, at apex with 2 ovate, greenish white to brownish white bracteoles, 6–9 mm × 4.5–6 mm; sepals unequal, ovate to triangular, up to 0.5 cm long, 2 partly fused and 3 free, white to greenish white; petals unequal, one up to 1 cm long, others narrow and up to 0.5 cm long, medium to pale yellow, in older flowers white; stamens (9–)10, (8–)9 fused at base and 1 free, filaments 1–1.5 cm long; ovary superior, 2–4 mm long, hairy, 1-celled, with stipe 1.5–4 cm long, style c. 1 cm long, stigma heart-shaped. Fruit an oblong to oblong-obovate pod, 6–13 cm × 3–5 cm, flattened, with 1–2.5 cm long stipe at base and with short beak at apex, upper suture distinctly winged, glabrous or sparsely hairy, glossy brown to grey-brown at maturity, dehiscent with 2 thin-woody, coiling valves, 1–3-seeded. Seeds disk-shaped, 1.5–2.5 cm × 1.5–2 cm, flattened, fairly glossy brown. Seedling with epigeal germination; hypocotyl 5–11 cm long, epicotyl 3–9 cm long, densely hairy; first 2 leaves opposite, with 6–9 pairs of leaflets.

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Other botanical information

Tetraberlinia comprises 7 species and is restricted to West and Central Africa. It seems related to Bikinia.

Anatomy

Wood-anatomical description (IAWA hardwood codes):
Growth rings: 1: growth ring boundaries distinct. Vessels: 5: wood diffuse-porous; 13: simple perforation plates; 22: intervessel pits alternate; 23: shape of alternate pits polygonal; (25: intervessel pits small (4–7 μm)); 26: intervessel pits medium (7–10 μm); 29: vestured pits; 30: vessel-ray pits with distinct borders; similar to intervessel pits in size and shape throughout the ray cell; 42: mean tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100–200 μm; 43: mean tangential diameter of vessel lumina ≥ 200 μm; 46: ≤ 5 vessels per square millimetre; (47: 5–20 vessels per square millimetre); 58: gums and other deposits in heartwood vessels. Tracheids and fibres: 61: fibres with simple to minutely bordered pits; 66: non-septate fibres present; 69: fibres thin- to thick-walled. Axial parenchyma: 79: axial parenchyma vasicentric; 80: axial parenchyma aliform; 81: axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform; (83: axial parenchyma confluent); 89: axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands; (91: two cells per parenchyma strand); 92: four (3–4) cells per parenchyma strand; 93: eight (5–8) cells per parenchyma strand. Rays: 96: rays exclusively uniseriate; 106: body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells; (107: body ray cells procumbent with mostly 2–4 rows of upright and/or square marginal cells); 115: 4–12 rays per mm. Mineral inclusions: 136: prismatic crystals present; 142: prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells; 143: prismatic crystals in fibres.
(E.K. Achi, H. Beeckman & P.E. Gasson)

Growth and development

Tetraberlinia tubmaniana flowers in April–June, and the fruits are ripe in November–January. Young trees only 9 m tall and 8 cm in bole diameter have been observed to flower already. When the fruits dehisce, the seeds are ejaculated from the coiling valves. Regeneration is good; seedlings are abundant in the forest.

Ecology

Tetraberlinia tubmaniana occurs from sea-level up to 100 m altitude in evergreen rainforest, in areas with an average annual rainfall of over 2000 mm, becoming abundant in areas with an average annual rainfall over 2500 mm. It grows on flat to slightly undulating terrain with deep soils; the terrain should not be inundated nor have a high water-table. It often occurs gregariously, and in some forests, such as the Krahn-Bassa National Forest in south-eastern Liberia, it is the dominant species over large areas, not only dominating the canopy, but also the middle and lower layers. Trees seem to suffer when suddenly exposed to full light, for instance when too many canopy trees are cut.

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Propagation and planting

The 1000-seed weight is 600–1900 g.

Management

In the 1960s the total standing stock of Tetraberlinia tubmaniana in south-eastern Liberia was estimated at over 7 million m³, and estimations of the amount of exploitable timber in old forests were as high as 70 m³ per hectare. In the 1970s it was recorded that stands in the Krahn-Bassa National Forest contained about 30 trees with a diameter over 40 cm per ha.

Yield

Because the sapwood is narrow, even small diameter logs contain much heartwood.

Genetic resources and breeding

In spite of the high numbers of trees counted in the 1960s and 1970s, Tetraberlinia tubmaniana is recorded to be overexploited and is classified as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List. It still occurs at high densities in a number of forest reserves. Its small distribution area makes it easily liable to genetic erosion.

Prospects

The wood of Tetraberlinia tubmaniana has good strength properties and works well, but because of its limited durability it is less suitable for outdoor uses. The wood is especially used for veneer and plywood, but quantitative information on its production, trade and use are not available. As the species is classified as vulnerable, care should be taken that its exploitation is carried out in a sustainable way. To do this properly, more information is needed on growth rates and suitable forest management systems.

Major references

• Bolza, E. & Keating, W.G., 1972. African timbers: the properties, uses and characteristics of 700 species. Division of Building Research, CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia. 710 pp.
• Chudnoff, M., 1980. Tropical timbers of the world. USDA Forest Service, Agricultural Handbook No 607, Washington D.C., United States. 826 pp.
• Gérard, J., Edi Kouassi, A., Daigremont, C., Détienne, P., Fouquet, D. & Vernay, M., 1998. Synthèse sur les caractéristiques technologiques des principaux bois commerciaux africains. Document Forafri 11. Cirad, Montpellier, France. 185 pp.
• Gottwald, H., Knigge, W., Noack, D., Willeitner, H. & Sachtler, M., 1968. Anatomical and physical-technological investigations on four Liberian wood species. Technical Report No 11. German Forestry Mission to Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia. 51 pp.
• Kryn, J.M. & Fobes, E.W., 1959. The woods of Liberia. Report 2159. USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin, United States. 147 pp.
• Kukachka, B.F., 1969. Properties of imported tropical woods. Paper presented at the Conference on Tropical Hardwoods held at the State University College of Forestry, Syracuse University, August 18–21, 1969. 67 pp.
• Sachtler, M., 1968. General report on National Forest Inventory in Liberia. Technical Report No 1. German Forestry Mission to Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia. 90 pp.
• Voorhoeve, A.G., 1979. Liberian high forest trees. A systematic botanical study of the 75 most important or frequent high forest trees, with reference to numerous related species. Agricultural Research Reports 652, 2nd Impression. Centre for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen, Netherlands. 416 pp.
• Wieringa, J.J., 1999. Monopetalanthus exit: a systematic study of Aphanocalyx, Bikinia, Icuria, Michelsonia and Tetraberlinia (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae). Wageningen Agricultural University Papers 99(4). Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen, Netherlands. 320 pp.

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Other references

• Bongers, F., Poorter, L., Van Rompaey, R.S.A.R. & Parren, M.P.E., 1999. Distribution of twelve moist forest canopy tree species in Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire: response curves to a climatic gradient. Journal of Vegetation Science 10(3): 371–382.
• Burkill, H.M., 1995. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 3, Families J–L. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 857 pp.
• Kunkel, G., 1965. The trees of Liberia. Field notes on the more important trees of the Liberian forests, and a field identification key. Report No 3 of the German Forestry Mission to Liberia. Bayerischer Landwirtschaftsverlag, München, Basel, Wien. 270 pp.
• Normand, D., 1958. Anatomie du bois et taxinomie II. Journal d’Agriculture Tropicale et de Botanique Appliquée 5(4–5): 297–303.
• Normand, D. & Paquis, J., 1976. Manuel d’identification des bois commerciaux. Tome 2. Afrique guinéo-congolaise. Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Nogent-sur-Marne, France. 335 pp.
• Poorter, L., Bongers, F., Kouamé, F.Y.N. & Hawthorne, W.D., 2004. Biodiversity of West African forests: an ecological atlas of woody plant species. CABI, Wallingford, United Kingdom. 521 pp.
• Russell, D. & Sieber, S., 2005. Preliminary biodiversity and tropical forest conservation assessment for USAID/Liberia. USAID, Washington, United States. 39 pp.
• Takahashi, A., 1978. Compilation of data on the mechanical properties of foreign woods (part 3) Africa. Shimane University, Matsue, Japan. 248 pp.
• World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 1998. Tetraberlinia tubmaniana. In: IUCN 2010. Red list of threatened species. Version 2011.2. [Internet] http://www.iucnredlist.org. Accessed March 2012.

Sources of illustration

• Voorhoeve, A.G., 1979. Liberian high forest trees. A systematic botanical study of the 75 most important or frequent high forest trees, with reference to numerous related species. Agricultural Research Reports 652, 2nd Impression. Centre for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen, Netherlands. 416 pp.

Author(s)

•	M. Brink PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Editors

•	R.H.M.J. Lemmens PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands
•	D. Louppe CIRAD, Département Environnements et Sociétés, Cirad es-dir, Campus international de Baillarguet, TA C 105 / D (Bât. C, Bur. 113), 34398 Montpellier Cédex 5, France
•	A.A. Oteng-Amoako Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), University P.O. Box 63, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

Associate editors

•	E.A. Obeng Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), University P.O. Box 63, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

Photo editor

•	G.H. Schmelzer PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Brink, M., 2012. Tetraberlinia tubmaniana J.Léonard. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Louppe, D. & Oteng-Amoako, A.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>. Accessed .

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