Pterocarpus erinaceus
Specifications
Family
Fabaceae
Species
Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir.
african kino
barwood
Description
The sapwood is yellowish and the heartwood is dark brown with black streaks. The texture is fine, the grain extremely variable, and the density ranges from 0.72 to 0.85. Drying must be done very slowly, as it tends to split easily. It has good mechanical strength and heartwood durability.
Plant morphology
It is a small tree, reaching a maximum height of 25 m, with an erect, cylindrical trunk, often twisted, reaching a maximum diameter of 1 m. The bark is gray-brown, fissured, and scaly, and the young branches are densely pubescent. The leaves are alternate, odd-pinnate, and composed of ovate-elliptical leaflets. The inflorescence is axillary or terminal, densely pubescent, with flowers bearing papilionate bracts. The fruit is a flattened legume.
Natural occurrence
Countries of origin and distribution
Tropical West Africa: Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Sudan, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Chad.
Habitat and ecology
It can colonize areas with poor soil and, like all legumes, is capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen. It is a drought-resistant species (even for 6-9 months) and fires. It lives in dry forests, wooded savannahs, or coastal savannahs, where humidity is slightly higher than in other places.
Uses
Use class
CU1
CU2
CU3
CU4
CU5
Application areas
It is sought after for fine work, such as furniture, floorboards, decorations, turning, and artistic crafts.
Threats and Conservation
Threats
Several factors contribute to threatening the conservation of this species, primarily excessive harvesting for timber, which was unsustainable even before the species was introduced to the international market. In recent years, international trade has further increased. Furthermore, its habitat is at risk, as it lies in densely populated areas, subject to significant agricultural and urban expansion.
Conservation measures
The species is listed in CITES Appendix II, but most of its timber trade is illegal. It is currently held in seven ex situ collections (BGCI 2017) and several protected areas; only 2% of its habitat is protected.
IUCN Red List
IUCN
EN - Endangered - At risk of extinction
CITES. Year of assessment
CITES
2017
1975
2050
CITES Italia • Ultimo aggiornamento
2017
Appendix II - African populations only
Technical data
Aesthetic characteristics
Grain
Obvious
Texture
Coarse
Physical and mechanical properties
Density
ρ
ρ
890
kg/m3
Radial shrinkage
Rad. sh.
Rad. sh.
32
MPa
Tangential shrinkage
Tang. sh.
Tang. sh.
59
MPa
Bending strength
M.O.R.
M.O.R.
130
MPa
Modulus of Elasticity
M.O.E.
M.O.E.
15670
MPa
Durability characteristics
Fungal resistance
Very durable
Insect resistance
Resistant
Miscellaneous
Given its poor state in the wild, this wood should be avoided. The bark exudes quinine, once highly sought after as a medicine.