Berlinia spp.

Specifications

Family

Fabaceae

Species

Berlinia spp.

Common name

Berlinia spp.
Commonly known as

Description

The broad sapwood is grayish, clearly differentiated from the pink or reddish-brown heartwood variegated with reddish-purple. The texture is coarse, the grain interwoven, and the density ranges from 0.65 to 0.85. It has a certain tendency to mold. It has good mechanical strength; the sapwood is readily attacked by insects, while the heartwood is quite resistant.

Plant morphology

Large trees up to 60 m tall, with columnar trunks ribbed at the base and fissured gray-brown bark. The leaves are alternate and evenly pinnate. The flowers, borne in terminal inflorescences, are pentamerous and greenish with a differentiated creamy-white petal. The fruit is a large, woody legume.

Natural occurrence

Countries of origin and distribution

Western Tropical Africa: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Angola.

Habitat and ecology

Berlinia bracteosa, B. amministrazione and B. grandiflora are widespread in humid evergreen forests from the plain up to 1,100 m.

Uses

Use class

CU1

CU2

CU3

CU4

CU5

Application areas

It is used for furniture, interior design, decorations and cabinet making.

Threats and Conservation

Threats

Deforestation and unsustainable timber trade.

Conservation measures

B. confusa grows in a protected area in Nigeria and B. grandiflora is in 5 ex situ collections (BGCI 2016).

IUCN Red List IUCN

Berlinia bracteosa LC - Least Concern - Low Risk (2016); B. confused LC - Least Concern - Low risk (2016); B. grandiflora LC - Least Concern - Low Risk (2016).

CITES. Year of assessment CITES

CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento

Not present.

Technical data

Aesthetic characteristics

Grain

Obvious

Texture

Coarse

Physical and mechanical properties

Density
ρ

700 kg/m³

Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.

MPa

Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.

MPa

Bending strength
M.O.R.

93 MPa

Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.

12870 MPa

Durability characteristics

Fungal resistance

Moderatamente durabile

Insect resistance

Resistant

Miscellaneous

Ebiara is obtained by processing the following species: Berlinia bracteosa Benth., B. confusa Hoyle, B. grandiflora (Vahl) Hutch. & Dalziel.