Microberlinia brazzavillensis
Encyclopedia
Microberlinia brazzavillensis is a tree in the family Fabaceae
, found in West Africa
. It is also called zebrano, zingana, and allen ele, and is commonly sold in the US as zebrawood
. The tree
is tall and straight, growing up to 40 m in height with a diameter of up to 1 m. The flower
has white petals and, as other legumes do, the tree produces pods.
Concern is expressed due to the tree's rarity in some areas of its native tropical
habitat in Gabon
and Cameroon
, typically less than one tree per square kilometre; it is listed by the IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered (Tree Conservation Information Service).
The wood is pale yellow to almost white with dark streaks, and it takes a nice polish. The wood is valued by some for its striped figure and is used in furniture. The wood is very tough and durable, and it can be used for objects such as tool handles and sporting equipment. It is resistant to termite
s and wood-rotting fungi
.
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
, found in West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
. It is also called zebrano, zingana, and allen ele, and is commonly sold in the US as zebrawood
Zebrawood
thumb|300px|ZebrawoodThe name zebrawood is used for wood with a figure that resembles the striping of a zebra, with dark stripes on a light background...
. The tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
is tall and straight, growing up to 40 m in height with a diameter of up to 1 m. The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
has white petals and, as other legumes do, the tree produces pods.
Concern is expressed due to the tree's rarity in some areas of its native tropical
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
habitat in Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
and Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, typically less than one tree per square kilometre; it is listed by the IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered (Tree Conservation Information Service).
The wood is pale yellow to almost white with dark streaks, and it takes a nice polish. The wood is valued by some for its striped figure and is used in furniture. The wood is very tough and durable, and it can be used for objects such as tool handles and sporting equipment. It is resistant to termite
Termite
Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera , but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea...
s and wood-rotting fungi
Fungus
A fungus is a member of a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds , as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, Fungi, which is separate from plants, animals, and bacteria...
.