Lepalea spp.

Specifications

Family

Meliaceae

Species

Lepalea spp.

Common name

Lepalea spp.
Commonly known as

Description

The species have a large yellowish or pinkish sapwood, differentiated from the heartwood, which is brownish when fresh and takes on darker hues after prolonged exposure to air. It has a medium texture, a twisted or twisted grain, and a density between 0.55 and 0.65. During drying, it can exude considerable resin, and the dust resulting from processing can irritate mucous membranes and skin, as well as cause various ailments. It exhibits good mechanical strength, while the sapwood has poor durability, while the heartwood has better durability.

Plant morphology

These species have an arboreal growth habit and can reach 40–45 m in height, with an erect, columnar trunk, often exceeding 1 m in diameter, supported by ribs. Common characteristics of the various species include odd-pinnate compound leaves with 10–12 leaflets, flowers borne in pauciflorous inflorescences with five creamy-white petals, and a capsule-shaped fruit contained within a yellow-orange aril.

Natural occurrence

Countries of origin and distribution

Central-Western Africa: Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda.

Habitat and ecology

Leplaea cedrata and L. laurentii occupy the middle canopy of rainforests, between sea level and about 1,000 m above sea level. The fruits of L. cedrata are dispersed by parrots and hornbills, while those of L. laurentii are also dispersed by primates and other mammals.

Uses

Use class

CU1

CU2

CU3

CU4

CU5

Application areas

Used for furniture, floorboards, interior and boat fittings, fine carpentry, cabinet making, veneer slicing.

Threats and Conservation

Threats

Habitat destruction and overharvesting

Conservation measures

These species are present in some protected areas in Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire (BGCI 2019).

IUCN Red List IUCN

Leplaea cedrata NT - Near Threatened (2022); Leplaea laurentii NT - Near Threatened (2022).

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

630 kg/m³

Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.

MPa

Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.

MPa

Bending strength
M.O.R.

95 MPa

Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.

12650 MPa

Durability characteristics

Fungal resistance

Durable

Insect resistance

Resistant

Miscellaneous

This wood is obtained from two species: Leplaea cedrata (A.Chev.) E.J.M.Koenen & J.J.de Wilde and L. laurentii (De Wild.) E.J.M.Koenen & J.J.de Wilde.