Didelotia spp.
Specifications
Family
Fabaceae
Species
Didelotia spp.
Description
The sapwood is slightly lighter than the reddish heartwood, slightly veined with greenish tones, with a coarse texture and a density of 0.60 to 0.70.
Plant morphology
These plants can be shrubby or arboreal, generally reaching 35 m in height, but occasionally reaching 50 m. The stem diameter can reach one meter. The leaves are simple, opposite, and sessile or subsessile.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Western Tropical Africa: Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Central African Republic, Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Habitat and ecology
They grow in evergreen rainforests and along rivers.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is used for carpentry, interior design, plywood, decorative veneers.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
Mining, over-harvesting, and unsustainable forestry have caused significant losses in the distribution of these species.
Conservation measures
Not reported.
IUCN Red List
IUCN
Didelotia africana LC - Least Concern (2021); D. idae NT - Near Threatened (1998).
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Slightly obvious
Texture
Medium
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
640
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
46
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
86
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
90
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
13940
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Not very durable
Insect resistance
Resistant
Miscellaneous
Gombè is a wood obtained from the processing of two species belonging to the Didelotia genus, D. africana and D. idae, the latter in a poor state of conservation in nature, therefore it is preferable to favor other types of wood.