Pachylobus buettneri
Specifications
Family
Burseraceae
Species
Pachylobus buettneri (Engl.) Guillaumin
moussikhou
ozigo
gabon
assia
Description
The heartwood is pinkish-gray, slightly lighter than the sapwood, and has a glossy appearance. The texture is medium, the grain is highly irregular, and the density ranges between 0.50 and 0.70. Sawing is difficult due to the high silica content of the tissues and the exuding resin. The mechanical strength is good to high; durability is not excellent.
Plant morphology
An evergreen tree, sometimes deciduous, with a hemispherical crown, typically 15 to 25 m tall, but reaching 50 m in favorable conditions. Characterized by a trunk with small buttresses at the base, it is branchless up to 20 m tall, with a maximum diameter of 1.5 m. The bark is golden yellow, pinkish on the inside; if damaged, it exudes a translucent resin. The leaves are alternate, odd-pinnate, composed of 10-15 pairs of leaflets whose upper surface is glossy dark green, while the lower surface is reddish-brown and pubescent. The flowers are unisexual, borne on an axillary inflorescence. The fruit is a blue-purple drupe with fleshy pulp.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Tropical West Africa: Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Liberia, Ivory Coast.
Habitat and ecology
This species is widespread in dense, humid evergreen lowland forests; in these formations, it is the characteristic species of the uppermost portion of the forest canopy. It prefers well-drained soils, is less abundant along the coast and more common on clayey soils inland.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is commonly used in interior carpentry, floorboards, furniture, wheelwright work, and plywood veneer.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
The conservation issues for this species are mainly linked to land management, both with regards to the conversion of large tracts of forest into agricultural areas and with regards to unsustainable timber harvesting.
Conservation measures
The species is not present in any ex situ collections (BGCI 2019). Ozygos specimens are found in some national parks. Monitoring population trends and sustainable forestry management are recommended.
IUCN Red List
IUCN
VU - Vulnerable
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2019
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2019
Not present.
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Slightly obvious
Texture
Medium
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
590
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
52
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
73
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
91
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
13820
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Not durable
Insect resistance
Not resistant
Miscellaneous
It is an important food source in West Africa, harvested in natural habitats for food (fruit) and medicinal purposes (bark, resin, etc.). Given the species' conservation status in the wild, the use of this wood should be avoided.