Triplochiton scleroxylon
Specifications
Family
Malvaceae
Species
Triplochiton scleroxylon K. Schum.
african whitewood
Description
It is undifferentiated, yellowish-white in color, with a medium to coarse texture, straight grain, and a volumetric weight between 0.35 and 0.50. Its mechanical strength is modest.
Plant morphology
It is a large deciduous tree up to 50 m tall, with a columnar trunk with a maximum diameter of 2 m, supported by large buttresses up to 8 m high. The bark is grayish-brown, and the crown is dense and rounded. The leaves are alternate, simple, palmate, with 5-7 broadly oval or triangular lobes, pubescent only when young. The inflorescence is terminal, composed of numerous pentamerous white-pink flowers with obovate petals. The fruit is a sort of woody nut.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Central-Western Africa: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Liberia.
Habitat and ecology
The species is characteristic of semi-deciduous secondary forests where it often grows in groups, on fertile, well-drained, neutral to acidic soils, provided they are free from stagnant water.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is sought after for its ease of working, especially for the production of veneers and veneers. It is subject to insect damage, even when processed into plywood.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Not obvious
Texture
Coarse
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
380
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
29
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
5
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
52
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
7260
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Not durable
Insect resistance
Not resistant
Miscellaneous
The leaves are used in the traditional cuisine of Benin and Ivory Coast.