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Nomenclature etc. FABACEAE-CAESALPINIOIDEAE. Gilbertiodendron brachystegioides (Harms) Leonard, G. dewevrei (de Wild.) Leonard, G. preussii (Harms) Leonard. Trade and local names: vaa (CI); sehmeh, sehn, smar-ne-eh (LR); ekpagoi eze (NG); ekop, ekobem, essalem, essouleoue, motondo (CM); molapa (CF); abeum grandes feuilles (GA); ditshipi, ligudu (CD). Not protected under CITES regulations.
Description based on 20 specimens. Tree. Geographic distribution: tropical Africa.
General. Growth ring boundaries distinct. Heartwood basically brown to red (copper-brown); without streaks. Sapwood colour distinct from heartwood colour. Odour indistinct or absent. Density 0.66–0.85 g/cm³.
Vessels. Wood diffuse porous. Vessels arranged in no specific pattern, in multiples, commonly in short (2–3 vessels) radial rows to in radial rows of 4 or more. Average tangential vessel diameter 200–380 µm. Average number of vessels/mm² 2–4(–7). Average vessel element length 350–500 µm. Perforation plates simple. Intervessel pits alternate, average diameter (vertical) 3–6 µm, pits vestured. Vessel-ray pits with distinct borders, similar to intervessel pits. Helical thickenings absent. Tyloses absent. Other deposits present (yellowish-brown (amber coloured)).
Tracheids and fibres. Fibres of medium wall thickness. Average fibre length 1100–1700–2300 µm. Fibre pits mainly restricted to radial walls, simple to minutely bordered. Helical thickenings absent. Fibres non-septate.
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma banded to not banded. Bands marginal (or seemingly marginal) (not in all specimens evident). Bands fine. Axial parenchyma paratracheal. Paratracheal axial parenchyma vasicentric, or aliform, or confluent. Aliform parenchyma of the lozenge type. Axial parenchyma as strands. Average number of cells per strand: 3–5(–7).
Rays. Rays 8–12 per tangential mm, exclusively uniseriate to multiseriate, 1–2 cells wide (rays in some specimens (species) exclusively uniseriate, in others mixed with biseriate ones). Height of large rays up to 500 µm (ca. 350 µm). Rays composed of two or more cell types (heterocellular). Heterocellular rays with square and upright cells restricted to marginal rows, mostly 1 marginal row of upright or square cells. Tile cells absent.
Storied structures. Storied structure absent.
Secretory structures. Intercellular canals absent. Laticifers or tanniniferous tubes absent.
Cambial variants. Included phloem absent.
Mineral inclusions. Crystals present, prismatic, located in axial parenchyma cells. Crystal-containing axial parenchyma cells chambered. Number of crystals per cell or chamber one. Silica not observed.
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract fluorescent (blue); colour of water extract colourless to brown. Ethanol extract not fluorescent. Colour of ethanol extract colourless to brown.
Illustrations. • Transverse section: G. dewevrei. Gilbertiodendron dewevrei. • Tangential section: G. dewevrei. Gilbertiodendron dewevrei: rays predominantly uniseriate. • Radial section: G. dewevrei. Gilbertiodendron dewevrei. • Transverse section: G. preussii. Gilbertiodendron preussii. • Tangential section: G. preussii. Gilbertiodendron preussii: rays predominantly multiseriate. • Radial section: G. preussii. Gilbertiodendron preussii.
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., and Dallwitz, M.J. 2000 onwards. Commercial timbers: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. In English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. Version: 9th April 2019. delta-intkey.com’.
