Microberlinia brazzavillensis

Microberlinia brazzavillensis
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Caesalpinioideae
Tribe:	Detarieae
Genus:	Microberlinia
Species:	M. brazzavillensis
Binomial name
Microberlinia brazzavillensis (Chev.)

Microberlinia brazzavillensis is a tree in the family Fabaceae, found in West Africa. It is also called zebrano, zingana, and allen ele, and is commonly sold in the US as zebrawood. The tree is tall and straight, growing up to 40 m in height with a diameter of up to 1 m. The flower has white petals and, as other legumes do, the tree produces pods.

Concern is expressed due to the tree's rarity in some areas of its native tropical habitat in Gabon and Cameroon, typically less than one tree per square kilometre; it is listed by the IUCN criteria as Critically Endangered (Tree Conservation Information Service).

The wood is pale yellow to almost white with dark streaks, and it takes a nice polish. The wood is valued by some for its striped figure and is used in furniture. The wood is very tough and durable, and it can be used for objects such as tool handles and sporting equipment. It is resistant to termites and wood-rotting fungi.

External links

• Tree Conservation Information Service: Microberlinia brazzavillensis
• Woods of the World: Zebrano

References

• World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). Microberlinia brazzavillensis. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1c v2.3)