Pycnanthus angolensis
Pycnanthus angolensis
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
A plant of the moist tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 1,200 metres[1]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature is within the range 20 - 28°c, though it can tolerate 15 - 34°c[1]. It prefers a rainfall in the range 1,300 - 2,200mm, tolerating 1,000 - 2,600 metres[2, 1]. The boundaries of the plant's natural range correspond to the minimum rainfall it can tolerate and a dry season of 3 - 5 months[1]. Prefers a sunny position, though young plants are more shade tolerant. It succeeds in most soils so long as they are fertile and deep, though it is scace on sandy soils[2, 1]. Some reports indicate that it is often found on poor soils[2]. Plants are intolerant of drought[2]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, though it tolerates 4 - 7[1]. In natural stands numerous seedlings appear around the mother tree. In the first year the stem height reaches 20 - 30cm and it can reach 50cm in the second year. In Sierra Leone a mean annual increment in diameter of 16 - 24mm has been observed[2]. In good plantations in the evergreen forest zone, the exploitable diameter of 50cm is reached when trees are 30 years old, and a diameter of 60cm at 45 years[2]. Because of the long straight trunk, the volume/trunk ratio is higher than in most other African forest tree species[2]. Plants can be either monoecious or dioecious[2]. If dioecious, both male and female forms will need to be grown if seed is required.
Propagation
Seed - it has a short viability and should be sown as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in cold water improves the germination rate. Sow in situ, or in a nursery seedbed in full sun or light shade. Rodents are particularly keen on the seed, so it needs protection. Germination of soaked seeds can be 100%, with the seeds sprouting within 16 - 36 days. The cotyledons are pulpy and the first two leaves which appear after two months are simple, opposite or alternate, later leaves alternate. A deep secondary root system develops during the first seven months of growth and may need checking in nursery-grown plants[2]. It is advisable to transplant nursery-grown seedlings after 1 - 2 years when 30 - 50 cm tall, at the beginning of the rainy season[2]. Cuttings do not thrive[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pycnanthus+angolensis>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [2]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
- [3]Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607. — Chudnoff. Martin. · USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin. · 1984 ↩︎Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics.
- [4]Field Guide to the Moist Forest Trees of Tanzania. — Lovett J.C.; Ruffo C.K.; Gereau R.E.; Taplin J.R.D · Frontier · http://www.york.ac.uk/res/celp/webpages/projects/ecology/tree%20guide/introduction.htm · ISBN 1-873070-33-0 ↩︎A lovely little book giving a basic identification guide to more than 650 species of trees growing in Tanzania. It is also available to view on the internet.
- [5]Tropix 7 — CIRAD · http://tropix.cirad.fr/en ↩︎An on-line guide to the timbers of 245 species of trees.