is likely to remain In demand on international quantities only. It is unlikely that this situa

100 Pages·2014·8.39 MB·English

OLEA 501
is likely to remain In demand on international Comoros and Madagascar, and on SOCotra is-
and local markets, but it is available in small land oremen).
quantities only. It is unlikely that this situa- Uses The heartwood, often traded as 'iron-
tion will change. The pharmacological proper- wood', is in high demand for flooring, carpentry
ties deserve research attention and panelling, and is widely used for house and
Major references Adjanohoun & Ak6 Assi, bridge construction, counter and table tops,
1979; Bolza & Keating, 1972; Burki11, 1994; railway sleepers, toolhandles and wagon parts
Dudek, F6rster & missenbauer, 1981; Inc. It produces beautiful furniture, turnery and
1991; Keay, 1958d; Leonard, 1956; Neuwinger, sliced veneer, and is often used by African art-
2000; Savill & Fox, 1967; Voorhoeve, 1979 1sts. It is suitable for Interior trim, sporting
Other references Aubr6ville, 1959a; Betti, goods, toys, novelties and agricultural imple-
2002; Bouquet & Debray, 1974; Chilima & merits. In South Africa it has been used tradi-
Namot0, 2008; Chilufya & Tengn6s, 1996; de in tionally to make assegais. It is also used as
Mensbruge, 1966; Dery, Otsyina & Ng'atIgwa firewood and for charcoal production.
(Editors), 1999; FAO, 1985; Hubert, undated; The oily fruits are edible and are used in
Jansen, 1974; Kryn & Fobes, 1959; Lovett at southern Africa in the preparation of beer and
a1. , 2007; Meniaud & Bretonnet, 1926; Nor- lemonade. In East Africa bark decoctions are
mand, 1955; Normand & Paquis, 1976; Rad- used as an emetic and arithelmintic, and to
cliffe-Smith, 1987b; Ruffo, Birnie & Tengn6. s, treat malaria, venereal diseases and female
2002; Tailfer, 1989; Torelli, Pigkur & Ti^Ier, sterility; bark ash is applied as a dressing to
2003; Vivien & Faure, 1985. wounds. In Swaziland bark decoctions are tak-
Sources of illustration Ako6gninou, van en to treat peptic ulcers, and in South Africa
der Burg & van der Maesen (Editors), 2006. the bark is used for skin lightening. In south-
Authors L. FA. Oyen ern Africa root powder is apphed to fractures
and joint swellings, and leaf infusions to treat
infections of the respiratory tract and pains
OLEACAPENSIS L. The foliage serves as fodder, especially during
the dry season. The flowers produce nectar for
Protologue Sp. PI. L 8 (1753) honey bees. In South Africa 01eo cope, "sis has
Family Oleaceae been used as stock for grafting olive cultivars
Vernacular names East African olive, from the Mediterranean region. The tree is
ironwood olive, Elgon olive, African ironwood, considered sacred by the Maasai people and is
black ironwood (En). 011vier du Cap (Fr). commonly used in ceremonies.
Mushargi, 10/10ndo (Sw) Production and international trade The
Origin and geographic distribution 01eo international trade in 01eo copensis wood is
copensis is widespread from Guinea and Sierra very limited. The volumes sold by auction in
Leone east to Ethiopia and Kenya, and south to South Africa in the period 2000-2008 varied
South Africa and Swaziland. It also occurs in from 50 in3 to 300 ing/year. In 2008 the price of
first-quality boards of 2.5 cm and 5 cm thick
was Us$ 1225/ina and Us$ 1335/in3 respective-
Iy, and in 2009 the price of 2.5 cm thick and 10
cm thick boards was Us$ 21/01m3 and Us$
2160/ina respectively
,
. Properties The heartwood is pale brown to
dark brown, often with irregular grey-black or
yellowish streaks. It is distinctly demarcated
from the yellowish white to grey, 2.5-5 cm wide
sapwood. The grain is straight to slightly inter-
,^
locked, texture fine and even. The wood surface
.. shows a nice figure and is slightly oily to the
touch
.. The wood is heavy, with a density of 860-975(-
1170) kg/in3 at 12% moisture content, and hard.
o
It air dries very slowly with a marked tendency
to surface checking, splitting, warping and
01eu copensts - wild distortion. Kiln drying is difficult and should
502 TIMBERS2
be done at low temperatures. The shrinkage
rates are moderate, from green to oven dry 4.0-
4.7% radial and 6.7-7.9% tangential. The dried ^
..
wood is unstable in service unless properly
dried. At 12% moisture content, the modulus of
rupture is (78-)127-174 N/mm2, modulus of
elasticity (8600-)16,500-19,500 N/min2, coin.
3 .. ~
pression parallel to grain (41-)73-84 N/mm2, .,
,
compression perpendicular to grain 19 N/min2,
,'.* ,
shear (16-)22.5-26 N/mm2, cleavage 28-94 ,
v. ,
N/min, Janka side hardness 10,050-13,750 N 4 *
and Janka endhardness 9780-14,200 N * ,
The wood Is easy to saw when green, but diffi- ,.. ,
cult to saw and work when dried, and blunts ., .
saw teeth and cutting edges rapidly. In work- ~
j "" I. .,
ing the material should be held firmly. Quar- %* ... , . *
ter-sawn surfaces have a tendency to pick up in
planing, and a cuttlrig angle of 20' is recoin- * . , ..
mended. The wood finishes with a nice polish
*
without the use of a filler. Pre-boring is neces-
sary in nailing and screwing. The wood does
I
not always glue well with conventional wood
glues because of the oily surfaces. It turns fair- I
Iy well and good-quality veneer has been ob-
tained with slicing. The steam bending proper- 2
a*.
ties are satisfactory. The wood is moderately
durable to durable. It is sometimes attacked by 01eo copensis - I, tree hobit, 2, legj:' 3, flower-
ambrosia beetles and termites, but is not sus- ing twig, ' 4, fruiting twig.
ceptible to Lyetus beetles. The heartwood is Redrawn grid oddpted by Achingd Sotiri Nur-
somewhat resistant to Impregnation with pre- hornon
servatives, the sapwood Is permeable
Coumarin and secoiridoid glucosides have been ate at base, obtuse to acute or short-acuminate
isolated from the bark. The Iignans (-)-o11vil at apex, entire to slightly wavy at margins,
and (+)-cyc10-o11vilhave also been isolated from leathery, glabrous, glossy green above, pale
the bark green below, pinnately veined with 5-7 pairs of
Adulterations and substitutes The wood Inconspicuous lateral veins. Inflorescence a
of wild African olive (01eo europoeo L. subsp. terminal panicle 3-8 cm long, glabrous, many-
cuspidoto myall. ex G. Don) Cif. ) closely resem- flowered. Flowers bisexual, regular, 4-merous,
bles that of 01eo copensis and is used for SImi- fragrant; pedicel short; calyx cup-shaped, c. I
Iar purposes. mm long, with triangularlobes; corolla 2-3 mm
Description Evergreen shrub or small to long, white, with short tube and elliptical lobes;
fairly large tree up to 35(-40) in tall; hole stamens 2, inserted on corolla tube, c. 2 min
branchless for up to 15 in, straight and cylin- long; ovary superior, flask-shaped, c. 1.5 min
drical but sometimes irregular or fluted, up to long, 2-celled, style short. Fruit a globose to
90(-150) cm in diameter; bark surface of young ellipsoid drupe 0.5-2 cm x 05-I cm, purple-
trees smooth and pale grey, in old trees becoin- black when ripe; stone with thick and woody
ing longitudinalIy fissured and dark grey, in- wall, usually I-seeded. Seed with copious endo-
ner bark thick, hard, cream-coloured to orange- sperm
brown or greenish, exuding a blackish gum; Other botanical information 01eo coin-
crown small and dense with steeply ascending prises 33 species, most of them occurring in
branches, or rounded with spreading branches; eastern and southern Africa and in tropical
twigs rounded, glabrous, with scattered white Asia.
lenticels. Leaves decussately opposite, simple; Three subspecies of 01eo copensis are distin-
stipules absent; petiole 0.5-I(-2) cm long; guished: subsp. copensts restricted to South
blade elliptical to oblong-elliptical or ovate- Africa, subsp. erreruis (Harv. ) I'verd. restricted
elliptical, 3-Ile16) cm x 1.5-5(-6.5) cm, curie- to South Africa and Swaziland, and subsp.
OLEA 503
ingcrocorpo (C. H. Wright) I'verd. (synonyms Tracheids and fibres: 61: fibres with simple to
01eo gumeensis Hutch. & Dalzie1, 01eo hoch- minutely bordered pits; 66: non-septate fibres
stetteri Baker) covering the whole area of dis- present; 70: fibres very thick-walled. Axial pa-
tribution of the species. They differ in leaf renchyma: 78: axial parenchyma scanty para-
shape and size, and in size of the fruit, subsp. tracheal; 92: four (3-4) cells per parenchyma
macrocorpo having the largest leaves and strand; (93: eight (5-8) cells per parenchyma
fruits. The latter subspecies is often a larger strand). Rays: 97: ray width I-3 ceUs; (98:
tree than the other two, and consequently more larger rays commonly 4- to 10-senate); 106:
important as a timber tree. body ray cells procumbent with one row of up-
01eo weiooitschii(Knobl. ) Gilg & Schellenb. has right and/or square marginal cells; 1/3: dis-
also been considered as a subspecies of 01eo junctive ray parenchyma cell walls present;
copensis, but in most recenttaxonomic pubhca- 1/5: 4-12 rays per mm. Mineral inclusions
tions it is regarded again as a distinct species, (150: acicular crystals).
mainly differing in its usually narrower leaves (E. Uetimane, P. Baas & H. Beeckman)
with longer petioles. 01eo wei"itschit is wide- Growth and development 01eo copensisis
spread from Cameroon east to Ethiopia and characterized as a shade tolerant species. Ini-
Kenya and south to Zambia, Angola and tial growth of seedlings may be up to 1.1
Mozambique, from lowland rainforest to ever- in/year, but after about 4 years the tree grows
green mountain forest. It is a small to fairly slowly. In Tanzania, 31-year-old trees were 12-
large tree up to 35 in tall, with bole up to 100 15 in tallwith a bole diameter of 12.5-14.5 cm
cm in diameter, sometimes with large but- In southern Africa trees flower periodically, at
tresses. Its wood resembles that of 01eo copen- intervals of 2-4(-7) years. Fruits ripen 0.5-I
sis and is used for similar purposes, e. g. for year later. They are eaten by birds such as
construction, flooring, Joinery, furniture and bombills and doves, which may disperse the
sliced veneer. However, its density appears to stones. Stones that have past the digestive
be slightly lower, 690-820 kg/in3 at 12% inols- system of birds germinate after 4-6 months
ture content, and the wood is less strong but Studies of faecal samples of chimpanzees in
more stable in service. In Ethiopia the but- Rwanda showed that these often contained
tresses are cut to make doors. The wood is also 01eo copensis stones. Monkeys, wild pigs, fruit
used as firewood and for charcoal production bats and squirrels have also been recorded to
The bark is applied in traditional medicine for feed on the fruits. Investigation of the roots
similar purposes as that of 01eo copensis. revealed the presence ofvesicular mycorrhizae.
01eo loneeo Lain. is also closely related to 01eo Ecology 01eo copensis is characteristic of
copensis, but differs in its usually narrower humid mountain forest. In West Africa it is
leaves with shorter petioles. It is a shrub or restricted to mountains above 600 in altitude,
small tree up to 6 in tall and occurs in Mada- in Central Africa it occurs at 1000-2800 in
gascar, Reunion and Mauritius. The wood ('bois altitude, and in East Africa it is mainly found
de cerF, 'bois d'olive blanc') is used for construc- at 1500-2700(-3200) in altitude. In South Mri-
tion and joinery. Bark decoctions are used to ca 01eo copensis is locally a dominant canopy
treat infections of the respiratory tract and tree, especially in forests along the coast. In
skin complaints, and leaf infusions as emmen- East Africa 01eo copensis can dominate the
agogue and aphrodisiac climax vegetation in lower and inid-altitude
Anatomy Wood-anatonxical description (IAWA montane forest, together with 01eo europoeo L
hardwood codes) subsp. cuspidoto (Wall. ex G. Don) Cif. and Po-
Growth rings: 2: growth ring boundaries Iridis- docorpus lotifolius (Thunb. ) R. Br. ex Mirb. In
tinct or absent. Vessels: 5: wood diffuse-porous; Ethiopia it is often found together with Juni-
7: vessels in diagonal and/or radial pattern; 10: perus procero Hochst. ex Briar. and Afrocorpus
vessels in radial multiples of 4 or more coin- 101cutus (Thunb. ) GNPage
mon; 13: simple perforation plates; 22: inter- In general, 01eo copensis prefers regions with
vessel pits alternate; 24: intervessel pits ini- an annual rainfallof800-1500 min and a mean
nute (S 4 ILm); 30: vessel-ray pits with distinct annual temperature of 14-18'0. Young trees
borders; similar to intervessel pits in size and prefer well-drained, deep, loamy and fertile
shape throughout the ray cell; 41: mean tan- soils. Once established, they are quite drought
gential diameter of vessellumina 50-100 pin; resistant and they also grow in poor soils
49: 40-100 vessels per square minimetre; 58: Propagation and planting Natural regen-
gums and other deposits in heartwood vessels. eration in mountain forest in south-eastern
504 TIMBERS2
Ethiopia was reported to be poor, but in Tan- exploitation of forests where 01eo copensis
zania it was reported to be abundant. In South dominated had made conservation measures
Africa seedlings are often abundant in the for- essential. However, in forests in southern
est, but many die off as a result of diseases South Africa, it is stinthe most common cano-
such as damping-off py tree. 01eo copensis is legally protected in
For sowing, the use of fresh stones is recoin- South Africa and harvesting is regulated. Some
mended. One kg contains 1500-3300 stones provenance testing has been done in Tanzania
The germination rate is about 35% and germi- with the aim of selecting the best trees regard-
nation takes 2-9 months, but sometimes up to Ing growth performance for larger-scale plant-
2 years. Whole fruits or stones can be collected Ing
from the ground. Stones can be stored for up to Prospects The heavy weight and hardness
3 months, butthey should be cleaned from pulp of the wood of 01eo copensis are serious draw-
by rubbing in running water and subsequently backs for many applications. However, the
dried for about 5 days. At a low temperature of nicely figured wood is attractive for furniture
3'C they can be stored for longer periods. Be- and sliced veneer. Plantations could produce
fore sowing the dry stones should be soaked in wood with good export prospects, but the rota-
water for 2 days. Wildlings are sometimes also tion cycles needed are qulte long. 01eo copensis
collected for planting. Planting should be done Is an interesting species for planting in de-
during the wettest part of the year. Seedlings graded forests throughout its natural distribu-
of about 180 cm tall with lower leaves stripped tion area. Studies to determine the genetic
off are often used for planting into the field variation are needed, as well selection of prov.
Management In Tanzania 01eo copensis is enances with superior hole characteristics for
grown in plantations in clusters of up to 10 timber production and investigations on opti-
trees at close spacing (I in x I in) with nurse inal SIIvicultural systems. In countries with
trees such as Greuil!eo robusto ACUnn. An high deforestation rates, immediate action is
interval of 7-8 in is maintained between the needed for in-situ conservation of remaining
clusters. 01eo copensis does not interfere much stands
with crops and has been recommended for ag- Major references Bekele-Tesemma, 2007;
roforestry systems. The young tree can be Bolza & Keating, 1972; Coates Palgrave, 1983;
managed by lopping, pollarding and coppicing Friis, 1992; Green, 2002; Hines & ECkman,
In South Africa trees showed regeneration by 1993; Maundu & Tengnds (Editors), 2005;
coppices in 40% of cut stems Palmer & Pitman, 1972-1974; Takahashi,
Diseases and pests 01eo copensis is often 1978; van Wyk & van Wyk, 1997.
browsed by goats as well as wild animals such Other references Baldoni at a1. , 2002;
as elephants and antelopes, but it recovers Barnuamba at a1. , 2008; Beentje, 1994; Burkill,
well 1997; Bussmann, 2001; Chikamaiet al. , undat-
Harvesting In plantations the holes can be ed; Grace at a1. , 2002a; Green, 2003; Gunb-
harvested for timber about 75 years after Fakim & Brendler, 2004; Hawthorne & Jong-
planting. In forests in southern South Africa, kind, 2006; Katende, Birnie & Tengnas, 1995;
where 01eo copensis is a dominant canopy tree, Liben, 1973; Maundu at a1. , 2001; Muthaura at
trees are harvested under a 10-year felling a1. , 2007; Neuwinger, 2000; Scott, 1981; Shan-
cycle and selected according to externalIy visi- gall at a1. , 2004; Sommerlatte & Sommerlatte,
ble criteria of maturity 1990; Tsukamoto, Hisada & Nishibe, 1985; van
Yield In Tanzania well-established stands of Wyk & Gencke, 2000
01eo copensis had a standing volume of about Sources of illustration Bekele-Tesemma,
20 mama 25-30 years after planting 2007; Hawthorne & Jongkind, 2006; von
Handling after harvest It is recommended Breitenbach, 1974.
to remove logs soon from the forest after felling Authors R. Aerts
because the sapwood is prone to fungal and
insect attacks. Freshly harvested logs sink in
water and cannot be transported by river. ONCOBABREVIPES Stapf
Genetic resources In many regions Oko
copensis is becoming rare due to over- Protologue Journ. Linn. SOC. , Bot. 37: 84
exploitation. This is the case in many moun- (1905)
tain regions in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania Family F1acourtiaceae (APG: AChariaceae)
Locally In South Africa, already by 1890 over- Chromosome number2n=24
ONCOBA 505
Synonyms Coloncobo breujpes (Stapfj Gilg wards the base, white; stamens numerous,
(1908). yellow, but arithers becoming brown; ovary
Origin and geographic distribution Oneobo superior, oblong-ovoid, I-celled, style c. I cm
breuipes occurs from Gulnea east to western long, at apex divided into 5-6 stigmatic lobes.
C6te d'TVoire. Fruit an ellipsoid to ovoid capsule 6-8 cm x 3-
Uses The wood of Oneob0 67euipes is used 5 cm, with faint ridges, many-seeded. Seeds
for poles in house building, fence posts, tool angular, c. 5 min long, enveloped by an anI
handles and sticks. The seed anIs are edible. Seedhng with epigeal germination; hypocotyl
The inner bark and the leaves are used medic- 2-3 cm long, epicotyl c. 1.5 cm long; cotyledons
many in Liberia against headache, either in a leafy, oblong-elliptical, c. 1.5 cm long; first
poultice or in decoction by draught. The seed leaves alternate.
oil or a paste from pulverized seeds is used for In C6te d'TVoire, trees flower in September-
treating skin diseases, river blindness and October, and young fruits have been collected
scrofula. The bark yields a fish poison. in May
Properties The sapwood is greyish, the Oneobo comprises about 35 species, most of
heartwood pale brown to reddish brown. The them in tropical Africa and 6 in tropical Amen-
wood is medium-weight and moderately hard ca. Several genera, including Coloncobo, have
and strong. The grain is generally straight, been merged into Oneobo in 1997. However, in
texture fine. The wood is easy to work and fin- 2002 a phylogenetic analysis based on DNA
ishes fairly smoothly. There is no information sequences resulted in a position of Calorieobo
on its durability. in the family AChorioceoe, whereas Oneobo
Botany Deciduous small tree up to 15 in spinoso Forssk. , the type of Oneobo, was placed
tall; hole up to 25 cm in diameter; bark surface in Suitcoceue. Currently research is done to
smooth, brown to blackish, inner bark thin, elucidate the status of the species within On-
red; twigs covered with scales or resinous cobo sensu Iato
glands. Leaves alternate, simple and entire; Oncobo gi!gtono Sprague (synonym: Coloncobo
stipules absent; petiole 1.5-3(-4) cm long; gilgiono (Sprague) GIIg) is a shrub or small
blade obovate-oblong to oblanceolate, 12-20(- tree up to 15 in tall, occurring from Guinea
26) cm x 4.5-7(-10) cm, base curieate, apex eastward to Garnero0n. Its pale brown and
abruptly short-acuminate, papery to thin- hard wood is used in house construction and
leathery, glabrous, pinnately veined with 7-9 for inlay and cabinet work, and also as fire-
pairs of lateral veins. Flowers solitary or some- wood. The seed anIs are edible. It has showy
times 2-3 together in axils of leaves on young flowers and may have prospects as ornamental
twigs, bisexual or male, regular; pedice1 3.5-4 Ecology Oncobo breuipes occurs in the un-
cm long, up to 8 cm in fruit; sepals 3, 0bovate- derstorey of evergreen rainforest, also in
oblong, c. 3 cm x 2 cm, greenish with white brushwood and forest regrowth, often in
margins, with glandular dots outside; petals 9- swampy and occasionally flooded localities, up
12, 0blanceolate, c. 6 cm x 3 cm, tapering to- to 700 in altitude.
Management There are about 4000 seeds
per kg. The germination rate of seeds is high,
within 8-12 days after sowing
Genetic resources and breeding Oneobo
breujpes does not seem to be selectively har-
" vested for timber or other products and has not
been classified as endangered or threatened.
However, it has a limited area of distribution
and its habitatis shrinking
Prospects The wood is likely to remain of
,^
local importance for posts and poles, and bark,
L. leaves and seeds for medicinal purposes. The
ornamental value of Oneob0 67euipes with its
.. showy flowers deserves attention
Major references Aubr6ville, 1959c; Cooper
o
& Record, 1931; HUI & Breteler, 1997; Kryn &
Fobes, 1959; SIeumer, 1974
Oneob0 67eujpes - wild Other references Barrier & Muller, 1943;
506 TIMBERS2
Chase at a1. , 2002; de in Mensbruge, 1966; pads and linings. In association with linseed oil
Hawthorne & Jongkind, 2006; Keay, 1954b; the oil can be made into a standoil(a heat-
Kew Science Directory, undated; Neuwinger, polymerized oil, very thick and strongly adhe-
2000; Normand, 1960; T6r6, 2004 SIve, but slowly drying; used as a final coat in
Authors L. P. A. Oyen oil painting) of superior qualities. Boiling
holeko oil with copal gives this resin a very
high heat resistance. The oil can be used to
ONGOKEAGORE (Hua) Pierre make de-emulsifying products for the crude oil
extraction industry and for the prevention of
Protologue Bull. Mens. SOC. Linn. Paris 2: icing-up of airplane wings. It can also be vul-
1314 (1897). canized to yield highly resistant synthetic-
Family 01acaceae rubber products. Ozonolytic cleavage can yield
Synonyms Origoheo Mumeono Pierre (1897), saturated double acids, which are used in the
Origoheu homerunensis Eng1. (1909). synthesis of polyamides. The use of fatty acids
Vernacular names ingueuk, boleko, isano from holeko oil in the manufacturing of sill-
(En). Angueuk, holeko, origok6a (Fr). Nsanu cones and of isolating glue for lithium-based
(P0). 1<11eku, ntuli, o1eko (Sw). batteries has been patented. The o111s used
Origin and geographic distribution Origo- traditionally to ano1nt the skin.
heu gore occurs from Sierra Leone eastward to The pulp of the fruitis edible. The bark is laxa-
eastern DR Congo and southward to Angola. tive; in Congo fresh bark is rubbed on the
Uses The wood of Origokeo gore, called 'an- breasts of Iactating mothers to purge their ba-
gueuk'in trade, is used mostly locally in heavy bies; similarly, in Gabon a decoction of the bark
construction, for railway sleepers and vehicle is used as a wash for babies or they are given a
frames, In Interior and exterior carpentry, for pinch of pounded bark mixed with a little salt
flooring, containers and boxes, turnery and The sap is used as styptic and the bark to treat
veneer It Is well suited for interior joinery splenomegaly in DR Congo. The seeds are used
provided it is perfectly dry to avoid defor- as bait for small rodents and the fruits as
mation spinning tops for children.
The seed oil, called 'holeko oil' or 'isano oil', is Production and international trade The
medible but can be used as additive to linseed wood of Origoheo gore is of little importance in
onin the manufacture of paints, varnishes and international trade and is mostly included in
linoleum and to oilfor moulding cores in metal statistics under 'miscellaneous timbers'. Few
foundry. It can also be used to protect metal accurate data are available: Equatorial Guinea
and wooden surfaces. Polymerization at inod- exported 400 in31year between 1963 and 1968,
erately high temperatures yields a film with while Cameroon exported 500 ing/year in 1997
remarkable properties: strong, flexible and and 1998. In the Central African Republic the
insoluble in acid and alkaline solvents. This total extractible volume has been estimated at
makes it suitable for manufacturing brake 3.7 million ina, of which 2.2 million ing is quali-
ty class I and 2
Boleko oil has been traded in small amounts.
At the end of the 1950s less than 100 t/year
were exported, although France and Belgium
had high hopes to develop the use of the oil in
.
the paintindustry. Potential production at that
time was estimated at 30,000 t/year for DR
Congo alone. No information is available on the
current production and trade of holeko oil
,^ Properties The heartwood of Origoheo gore
is pale yellow to pale brown and darkens on
L. exposure to light. It is indistinctly demarcated
from the 6-10 cm thick sapwood. The grain is
straight, sometimes finely interlocked or wavy,
texture fine and even. Quarter sawn surfaces
o
are sometimes finely inottled or banded and
slightly lustrous. The wood is heavy, with a
Origoheogore - wild density of 840-910 kg/ina at 12% moisture con-
ONGOKEA 507
tent. The rates of shrinkage on drying are high, are related to sakuranetin and are character-
from green to oven dry 4.0% radial and 10.7% ized by a non-aromatic CG-ring molety that is
tangential. The wood should be dried slowly, otherwise only known from certain ferns.
and there is a high risk of distortion and a Description Medium-sized to large, gla-
slight risk of checking. Logs should be quarter brous tree up to 40 in tall; hole straight and
sawn before drying to avoid warping cylindrical, branchless for up to 20 in, 100(-
At 12% moisture content the modulus of rup- 150) cm in diameter, without buttresses but
ture is 94-143 N/mm2, modulus of elasticity sometimes with heavy root swellings; bark
10,000-16,135 N/mm2, compression parallel to surface grey to dark brown or black, finely fis-
grain 53-74 N/min2, shear 9-11 N/mm2, cleav- sured and peeling off in fine Irregular scales,
age 20-33.5 N/min and Chalais-Meudon side inner bark I-2 cm thick, softly granular, yel-
hardness 3.0-7.5 low-brown; crown pyramidal, rather open, with
Once dry, the wood is easy to work, saw and few heavy branches; twigs lateralIy coin-
plane with little blunting of tools. It is easy to pressed. Leaves alternate, simple and entire,
finish, sand and polish. It can be painted, var- without stipules; petiole thin, 0.5-I cm long,
nished, waxed and glued without difficulty. For grooved above, decurrent into 2 fine ridges
nailing pre-boring is often required. It can be along the branch; blade elliptical, 4-12 cm x 2-
sriced into veneer, but requires much force 5 cm, base rounded to curieate, apex short-
The heartwood is durable; in a test in Japan it acuminate, papery, glabrous, pinnately veined
was little affected by decay fungi or termites with 6-10 pairs of lateral veins. Inflorescence
and was resistant to marine borers and in a an axillary panicle up to 15 cm long, consisting
test in Ghana it was little affected in a 3-year of densely flowered, umbel-shaped cymes
wood graveyard test. The sapwood is sensitive Flowers bisexual or functionally unisexual,
to blue-stain and to dry-wood borers. The regular, 4-merous, greenish; pedicel slender, c.
heartwood is extremely resistant to impregna- 6 min long; calyx shallowly cup-shaped, c. I
tion, whereas the sapwood is moderately re- mm in diameter; petals strap-shaped, 3-4 mm
slstant
,,*..,-.,
The dry seed contains about 63% oil. The seed ,
oil differs from other vegetable oils in its fatty
.
acid composition. Boleko oil has a high iodine , ,. I. ;, '$.,::I,*;A'
number, but it does not dry when exposed in a $1,
thin film such as linseed oil or tung oil. When .. '* \.
heated to 250'0 a strongly exothermic sponta- 5
neous polymerization reaction starts, which 4
may lead to a further increase in temperature
to more than 400'C and to an explosion. Di- . ~
acetylenic fatty acids and hydroxy-diacetylenic
*.*..,,< '*a~.,**. ~
fatty acids characterize the oil; It consists
mainly of is antc acid and holekic acid (together
30-50%) and of isano11c acid (15-35%). It fur-
ther contains saturated and unsaturated fatty
acids of which linoleic acid is the most jin-
portant one. Isantc acid is an unbranched Ci8-
fatty acid with a single ethylene bond and 2
conjugated acetylene bonds; its formula is 17-
octadecene-9.11-diynoic acid. Bolekic acid is 13-
,
octadecene-9.11-diynoic acid, isano11c acid 17-
octadecene-8-hydroxy-9.11-diynoic acid. The
unsaponifiable matter of the oil contains a
crystalline dialcohol with molecular formula 3 2
C2sH4402.
The pulp of the fresh fruit contains 67% ino1s-
ture; its smellis reminiscent of apple, its taste
is sweet but slightly astringent. The root and Origoheo gore - I, 60se of 601e, ' 2, flowering
stem bark of Origoheo gore contain cyclohexa- twig, . 3, flower, ' 4, fruit, ' 5, fruit stone.
noid protaflavanones named origokeins; they Redrawn und odopted by Ishoh Syomsudin
508 TIMBERS2
long, recurved; disk 4-10bed; stamens united (E. Uetimane, P. Baas & H. Beeckman)
into a tube c. 3 min long; ovary superior, ses- Growth and development In C6te d'TVoire
SIIe, I-celled, style hardly exserted from the Origoheo gore flowers from January to June
staminaltube. Fruit a globose drupe 2-4 cm in and fruits from May to July; in DR Congo fruit-
diameter, enclosed by the enlarged calyx except ing is abundant in September, in Gabon in
for apical part, slightly acuminate, I-seeded. December and January. The fruits are eaten by
Seed globose, c. 1.5 cm in diameter. Seedling many animals and the seeds are dispersed e. g.
with epigeal germination; hypocotylvery short, by monkeys.
epicotyl c. 18 cm long; first pair of leaves OPPo- Ecology Origoheo gore is found scattered in
site. dense evergreen forest and in moist semi-
Other botanical information Origoheo deciduous forest. It occurs on dry ground and
comprises a single species. It is closely related in periodically inundated localities. In Gabon it
to Aptondru, a genus with about 4 species in often occurs in forest dominated by SOCoglottis
tropical America and one species in tropical gobonensis (Baill. ) Urb. and Aucoumeo
Africa, Aptondro zenheri Engl. , which differs Mumeono Pierre.
from Origoheo gore in its raceme-like inflores- Propagation and planting Germination is
cences and large, collar-shaped, pinkish calyx slow and may take several months and even
surrounding the fruit more than one year. Because of its slow and
Anatomy Wood-anatomical description (IAWA irregular germination, Origoheo gore is not
hardwood codes)
grown In nurseries
Growth rings: 2: growth ring boundaries iridis- Management Large trees of Origoheo gore
tinct or absent. Vessels: 5: wood diffuse-porous; occur scattered in the forest. In Liberia I tree
(7: vessels in diagonal and/or radial pattern); 9 with a hole diameter over 60 cm has been re-
vessels exclusively solitary (90% or more); 13 ported per 43 ha for evergreen forest, and I
simple perforation plates; 22: intervessel pits tree per 7.5 ha for moist semi-deciduous forest.
alternate; (23: shape of alternate pits polygo- Harvesting Fruits of Origokeo gore are col-
na1); 25: intervessel pits small (4-7 pin); 30: leeted from the wild and mostly the pulp is
vessel-ray pits with distinct borders; similar to allowed to rot away before the fruit stones are
intervessel pits in size and shape throughout collected from the soil.
the ray cell; 31: vessel-ray pits with much re- Handling after harvest Fresh logs sink in
duced borders to apparently simple: pits water and cannot be transported by river.
rounded or angular; 33: vessel-ray pits of two Depulping of fruits can be done by passing the
distinct sizes or types in the same ray cell; 42 fruits between rubber rollers and washing
mean tangential diameter of vessellumina them with cold water. Boleko oilis produced by
100-200 I'm; 47: 5-20 vessels per square inn- hydraulic pressing, but this is hampered by the
limetre. Tracheids and fibres: 62: fibres with high viscosity of the oil. During pressing the
distinctly bordered pits; 63: fibre pits common temperature can rise to 80"C which can alter
in both radial and tangential walls; 66: non- the properties of the oil. The press cake con-
septate fibres present; 69: fibres thin- to thick- tains considerable amounts of polymerized oil
walled; 70: fibres very thick-walled. Axial pa- The cake is unsuitable as cattle feed, but can
renchyma: 76: axial parenchyma diffuse; 77 be used as manure. The oilcan also be extract-
axial parenchyma diffuse-in-aggregates; 78 ed by solvents after the kernels have been
axial parenchyma scanty paratrachea1; (86: ground and subjected to treatment with cold
axial parenchyma in narrow bands or lines up methanol
to three cells wide); 92: four (3-4) cells per pa- Genetic resources Origokeo gore is wide-
renchyma strand. Rays: 97: ray width I-3 cells; spread and does not seem to be in danger of
(104: all ray cells procumbent); 106: body ray genetic erosion. No germplasm collections are
cells procumbent with one row of upright known to exist.
and/or square marginal cells; 1/6: z: 12 rays per Prospects Origoheo gore is likely to remain
mm. Mineral Inclusions: 136: prismatic crystals important in its region of origin. There are no
present; 138: prismatic crystals in procumbent indications that it will become a commodity in
ray cells; 139: prismatic crystals in radial international trade, but its volume in miscella-
alignment in procumbent ray cells; 140: pris- neous timber lots is likely to increase. Demand
matic crystals in chambered upright and/or for the o111s likely to remain low except if local
square ray cells; 142: prismatic crystals in paint industries develop or if new applications
chambered axial parenchyma cells. for its unique fatty acids are found
OFHiOBOTRYS 509
Major references anonymous, 1957a; Au- up to 30(-40) in tall; hole usually straight and
br6viUe, 1959b; Chudnoff, 1980; CIRAD Forest- long, up to 90(-120) cm in diameter, with steep
ry Department, 2003; CTFT, undated; Miller at and flat buttresses up to 4 in high; bark surface
a1. , 1977; Normand, 1950a; Fouliquen, 1959; fairly smooth, peeling off in thin flakes, yellow-
Vieux & Taratibu, 1968; Voorhoeve, 1979 ish green to pale brown or pale grey, Inner
Other references Burki11, 1997; De Borger, bark thin, brittle, yellow-orange; crown round-
1960; De Vries, 1956; De Vries, 1957; Heckel, ed, rather open, with spreading branches;
1902; Jerz, Warnel & Achenbach, 2005; Keay, twigs slightly short-hairy or glabrous. Leaves
1989; Libouga, Womeni & Bitjoka, 2002; Mag- alternate, simple and entire; stipules minute,
110cca, 1998; Mangala, 1999; Normand & caducous; petiole c. I cm long; blade elliptical,
Paquis, 1976; Pauwels, 1993; Raponda-Walker 7-15 cm x 2.5-6 cm, curieate to obtuse at base,
& Sillans, 1961; Sallenave, 1955; Saunders & acuminate at apex, papery to thin-leathery,
Hall, 1968; Tsunoda, 1990; Viniers, 1973b; von glabrous, with I-2 pairs of lateral veins from
Mikusch, 1963; von Mikusch, 1964; Wilks & near the base of leaf blade and c. 3 pairs of
TSSemb6, 2000 additional lateral veins. Inflorescence a termi-
Sources of illustration Pauwels, 1993; nal panicle c. 20 cm long, with long, slender
Voorhoeve, 1979; Wilks & TSSemb6, 2000 branches, short-hairy, many-flowered. Flowers
Authors D. Louppe bisexual or male, regular, small, creamy to
greenish white, scented; pedicel c. I mm long;
sepals 5, free, ovate, c. 2 mm long; petals ab-
OFHIOBOTRYSZENKERIGilg sent; stamens 5-6, c. 2.5 mm long; disk with
hairy lobes alternating with stamens; ovary
Protologue Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 40(4): 516 superior, ovoid, hairy, I-celled, style thick, with
(1908). 3 spreading branches. Fruit an ellipsoid cap-
Family F1acourtiaceae (APG: Salicaceae) SUIe up to 1.5 cm x I cm, pointed, short-hairy,
Origin and geographic distribution Ophio- pinkish to reddish, dehiscent with 3 valves, 3-
botrys zenheri occurs from Liberia east to the 6-seeded. Seeds with small, lobed anI. Seedling
Central African Republic and south to Gabon with epigeal germination; hypocoty1 3-3.5 cm
and western DR Congo. long, epicotyl c. 2 cm long, short-hairy; cotyle-
Uses The wood is used locally, but there is dons leafy, rounded, c. 1.5 cm long; first leaves
little technical information on its uses. In Gha- alternate, slightly toothed.
na it has been used for utensils including inor- In C6te d'TVoire trees have been recorded to
tars. flower in June and fruits have been collected in
Properties The pale brownish yenow wood August-October.
is moderately heavy and hard. It has some Ophiobotrys comprises a single species. It is
resemblance to the wood of Scottellio hmmeono related to Coseorio and several genera re-
Pierre. stricted to tropical America and tropical Asia
Botany Shrub or smallto medium-sized tree Ecology Ophiobotrys genheri occurs mainly
in lowland semi-deciduous forest
Management There are about 25,000 seeds
per kg. The seeds germinate within 8-12 days
after sowing, but the germination rate is re-
portedly low, 15-25%. Larger trees are often
I
. difficult to fell because they have large but-
tresses. Freshly harvested logs sink in water
and cannot be transported by river
Genetic resources and breeding Although
Ophiobotrys zenheri is quite widespread, it
.^
seems to be uncommon or even rare In many
.. regions within its distribution area. From some
countries very few herbarium collections are
.. available, e. g. from Cote d'TVoire and Gabon.
Prospects Very little is known about Ophi-
o
o60trys zenkeri. It seems to be rarely exploited
for timber, probably because it is uncommon
Ophtobotrys zenheri- wild and has hard wood and large buttresses.
510 TIMBERS2
Major references Aubr6ville, 1959c; Burkill, very small, caducous; petiole I-3 mm long;
1994; Normand, 1960; Normand & Paquis, blade ovate to lanceolate, sometimes elliptical,
1976; SIeumer & Bamps, 1976. 8-16 cm x 3.5-6.5 cm, base curieate and
Other references de to Mensbruge, 1966; asymmetrical, apex long-acuminate, margin
Hawthorne, 1995; Hawthorne & Jongkind, entire to finely toothed, leathery, glabrous,
2006; HUI, 1995; InsideWood, undated; Irvine, pinnately veined with 6-8 pairs of lateral
1961; Keay, 1954b; Keay, 1989; Miller, 1975; veins. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal
Tailfer, 1989 panicle up to 15 cm long. Flowers bisexual,
Authors R. H. M. J. Lemmens regular; pedice1 5-6(-8) mm long; calyx saucer-
shaped to cup-shaped, 3-4 mm in diameter,
margin entire or incised; petals 6-8, 6-8 mm
OUBANGUIAAFRICANA Baill. long, recurved, white; stamens numerous, c. 5
mm long; ovary superior, globular, 3-4(-5)-
Protologue Bull. Mens. SOC. Linn. Paris a celled, style slender, c. 5 mm long, stigma
869 (1890). small. Fruit a globose to obovoid capsule, 1.5-2
Family Scytopetalaceae (APG: Lecythida- cm x I-1.5 cm, violet, usually I-seeded. Seed
ceae) oblong, 9-11 mm x 6-7 mm.
Synonyms Oubongttio denticuloto Tiegh. Oubonguio comprises 3 species. Oubonguio
(1905), 0,160nguio IOUrentii Bail1. (1908). IOUrifo!to (Pierre) Tiegh. is a rare species re-
Origin and geographic distribution Oubon- stricted to south-eastern Nigeria, Garnero0n
guto of neono is found in Cameroon, Central and Gabon. It is a smalltree up to 15 in tall
African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, with a hole diameter up to 60 cm. In Cameroon
CongoandDR Congo the wood is used to make oars.
Uses The wood of Oubonguio ofricono is Oubongui0 o10to Baker f. is also found in
used in Gabon to make packing cases. In DR south-eastern Nigeria, Garnero0n and Gabon,
Congo the bark is powdered and taken orally to but nowhere further from the coast than 100
cure backache and haemorrhoids. kin. It is a smallto medium-sized tree up to 20
Properties The wood ofOubonguio of neono in tallwith a low-branching hole up to 50 cm in
is greyish pink, heavy, and similar to that of diameter. The wood is probably used for SImi-
the commercially more important timber tree Iar purposes at the other Oubonguio spp
Scytopeto!urn tinghemii (Achev. ) Hutch. & Fruits are produced in abundance in some
Dalziel. years and the seeds are often eaten by chil-
Botany Smallto medium-sized tree up to 20 dren. The seeds are hard, low in oilcontent and
in tall; hole often short, up to 50(-80) cm in they taste like coconut but have a bitter after-
diameter; bark surface longitudinalIy fissured, taste
pinkish, inner bark fibrous, reddish; crown Ecology Oubo, Iguio of neono is found in
small; twigs angular. Leaves alternate, crowd- swamp forest and periodically inundated for-
ed towards the ends of twigs, simple; stipules est, and along rivers
Genetic resources and breeding Oubon-
gum ofricoito is fairly widespread and occurs
locally abundantly, although in general consid-
ered to be rather uncommon. At present, there
is no reason to consider this species as threat-
"
ened
Prospects 01160ngui0 o17icono and other
Oubonguio spp. will probably remain of inter-
est for local use only.
.^ Major references numbe Bayeli, 2006;
Letouzey, 1978a; Raponda-Walker & Sillans,
,..
1961.
Other references Breteler, 2002; Breteler,
2005; Germain, 1963; Lebrun & Stork, 2003;
Moyersoen, Alexander & Fitter, 1998; Nor-
Q
inarid & Paquis, 1976; Thomas at a1. , 1989;
Vivien & Faure, 1985; Vivien & Faure, 1996.
Oubo, Igutoof neono- wild Authors C. H. BOSch