Entandrophragma

Entandrophragma is a genus of eleven species of deciduous trees in the mahogany family Meliaceae, restricted to tropical Africa. At least some of the species attain large sizes, reaching 40-50 m tall, exceptionally 60 m, and 2 m in trunk diameter. The leaves are pinnate, with 5-9 pairs of leaflets, each leaflet 8-10 cm long with an acuminate tip. The flowers are produced in loose inflorescences, each flower small, with five yellowish petals about 2 mm long, and ten stamens. The fruit is a five-valved capsule containing numerous winged seeds.

Selected species

• Entandrophragma angolense - Tiama
• Entandrophragma candollei - Kosipo
• Entandrophragma cylindricum - Sapeli or Sapele
• Entandrophragma utile - Sipo or Utile

Uses

The timber of a few species is well-known. These are traded under separate names and can be used more or less like mahogany, with that of Entandrophragma cylindricum perhaps closest to a mahogany-type wood. The wood has a density of 660kg per cubic meter^[1].

References

1. ^ Utile. Niche Timbers. Accessed 20-09-2009.

External links

Tiama Entandrophragma angolense

• Wood properties
• Wood anatomy

Kosipo Entandrophragma candollei

• Wood properties
• Wood anatomy

Sapeli Entandrophragma cylindricum

• Wood properties
• Wood anatomy

Sipo (Utile) Entandrophragma utile

• Wood properties
• Wood anatomy