''Entandrophragma angolense'', called the ''tiama'', is a tree species with alternate, pinnately compound leaves that are clustered at the ends of branches. It is within the family

Meliaceae Meliaceae, the mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs (and a few herbaceous plants, mangroves) in the order Sapindales. They are characterised by alternate, usually pinnate leaves without stipules, and by syncarp ...

and has a wide distribution area, occurring in moist semi-deciduous and evergreen forest regions of Tropical Africa from Sierra Leone to Uganda. Harvesting for

timber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, wi ...

has caused the species to become vulnerable in certain countries.

Taxonomy

''Entandrophragma angolense'' was first indicated as belonging to the

Swietenia ''Swietenia'' is a genus of trees in the chinaberry family, Meliaceae. It occurs natively in the Neotropics, from southern Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America south to Bolivia. The genus is named for Dutch-Austrian physician Gerar ...

family but upon a revision in 1894 by

de Candolle Augustin Pyramus (or Pyrame) de Candolle (, , ; 4 February 17789 September 1841) was a Swiss botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched de Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at a herbarium. Within a couple of years de Candolle ...

, the species was transferred to a new genus

Entandrophragma ''Entandrophragma'' is a genus of eleven known species of deciduous trees in the family Meliaceae. Description ''Entandrophragma'' is restricted to tropical Africa.Entandrophragma C. DC. in Bull. Herb. Boissier 2:582 t.21 (1894) At least some ...

. In 2021, up to 10 taxa are placed as synonyms of the species in two database.

Description

The tree can grow to a height of 60 meters and reach a diameter of 200 cm, its base often has developed buttresses that can reach a height of 6 meters, and extending as surface roots, the trunk is branchless for up to 30 meters. The grey-brown bark tends to be thin and smooth with irregular flaking in small and large pieces leaving concave or mussel-shell shaped scars, slash is pink to reddish. Leaves are paripinnately compound, up to 50 cm long and tufted at the ends of branches, 4-11 pairs of opposite leaflets per pinnae, petiole is up to 18 cm long. Leaf-blade outline is commonly oblong to obovate, 3.5–12 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, upper surface is dark green and coriaceous. Flowers are in dense panicles, clustered at the end of branches, petal is greenish white in color, flowering period is between November to February. Fruits is a large pendulous capsule, up to 22 cm long.

Distribution

The species distribution is wide spread in tropical Africa, its native range is within the evergreen and semi-deciduous forest zones of West, Central and East Africa. In Eastern Africa, majorly Kenya and Uganda, occurrence is of a lower density than in Central and West Africa.

Chemistry

Chemical compounds including the

limonoid Limonoids are phytochemicals of the triterpenoid class which are abundant in sweet or sour-scented citrus fruit and other plants of the families Cucurbitaceae, Rutaceae, and Meliaceae. Certain limonoids are antifeedants such as azadirachtin from ...

s: 7α- acetoxydihydronomilin, 7α- obacunylacetate and Methyl angolensate have been isolated from methanol extracts of the stem bark of the species.

Uses

Timber traded as Tiama mahogany, White tiama or Genu Nohur is used for cabinet making, furniture and interior and exterior joinery. In traditional medicine, extracts of the stem bark is used to treat various gastrointestinal afflictions and a decoction is consumed to treat fever.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5834163 Flora of West Tropical Africa angolense