African teak (Pericopsis elata)

African teak
African teak

African teak fact file

African teak description

KingdomPlantae
PhylumTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderFabales
FamilyLeguminosae
GenusPericopsis (1)

Resembling other teaks, the African teak has brown, green or yellow-brown bark and a straight grain (4). Growing to 50 m, this tree has buttresses up to 3 m, and the trunk is clear of foliage for the first 25 – 30 m (3).

Also known as
Afrormosia, Assamela, Kokrodua.
Synonyms
Afrormosia elata.
Size
Maximum height: 50 m (2)
Diameter: up to 2m (2)
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African teak biology

The timber from this tree is used for boat building, joinery, flooring and decorative veneers (3). Despite its endangered status, it is still considered a suitable alternative to other threatened teaks within the timber industry.

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African teak range

Found in central and west Africa (1).

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African teak habitat

The African teak is found only in dry areas of semi-deciduous forests (1).

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African teak status

The African teak is classified as Endangered (EN A1cd) on the IUCN Red List 2004 (1), and is listed on Appendix II of CITES (3).

IUCN Red List species status – Endangered

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African teak threats

The trade in the timber from this tree has soared since 1948, and the degree of exploitation has long been unsustainable across its range. The habitat has been lost and now regeneration is insufficient to replace lost populations (1). Illegal logging continues to decimate the remaining populations (2).

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African teak conservation

Urgent regulation of logging is necessary, including the employment of Forestry Stewardship Council regulations on harvesting. In Ghana some enrichment planting is being practised, where suitable areas with low numbers of African teak are planted with African teak seedlings, but conservation of current populations is a priority (2).

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Find out more

For further information on this species see:

For more information on the Forestry Stewardship Council see:
http://www.fsc.org/

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Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

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References

  1. IUCN Red List (November, 2004)
    http://www.redlist.org
  2. Global Trees Campaign (May, 2010)
    http://www.globaltrees.org/tp_pericopsis.htm
  3. CITES (November, 2004)
    http://www.cites.org
  4. University of Hamburg (November, 2004)
    http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/wood/english/pappeela.htm

More »Related species

Nedun tree (Pericopsis mooniana)Inga (Inga bella)Red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus)Gigasiphon (Gigasiphon macrosiphon)Begonia (Begonia hitchcockii)Acacia (Acacia pseudonigrescens)Inga (Inga pleiogyna)Serianthes (Serianthes rurutensis)

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Image credit

African teak  
African teak

© Evan Bowen-Jones / Fauna & Flora International

Fauna & Flora International
Jupiter House (4th Floor)
Station Road
Cambridge
CB1 2JD
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1223 571 000
Fax: +44 (0) 1223 461 481
info@fauna-flora.org
http://www.fauna-flora.org/

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