Lophira alata
Ochnaceae FAMILY Vulnerable

Lophira alata

Lophira alata

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Niam tree is a very large tree growing from 40 - 60 metres tall with a long, narrow crown of steeply ascending branches[ 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ]. The fluted bole is long, straight and clear, it can be unbranched for up to 30 metres and 120 - 180 cm in diameter, with large buttresses[ 316 Title Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607. Publication Author Chudnoff. Martin. Publisher USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin. Year 1984 ISBN Description Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics. , 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ]. One of the giant trees of the African rain-forest, it is also one of the most exploited species for wood in West Africa, providing a strong, very durable, heavy construction timber[ 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ]. The tree is also harvested from the wild for its seed, which is used to extract a good quality edible oil[ 46 Title Dictionary of Economic Plants. Publication Author Uphof. J. C. Th. Publisher Weinheim Year 1959 ISBN - Description An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader. ]. This species has been listed as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List because of the large scale destruction of wet evergreen forest throughout its range; the over-exploitation of this species as a timber; slow rates of growth; and poor regeneration levels in less than optimum conditions[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. The plant is common and widespread in Cameroon, however, where it regenerates easily in many areas and does not appear threatened[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical
Native RangeWestern tropical Africa - Guinea to Zaire.
HabitatEvergreen moist rain-forest at elevations of 550 - 1,300 metres[ 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ]. Evergreen and moist deciduous forests, in freshwater swamp forests, and close to riverbanks[ 316 Title Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607. Publication Author Chudnoff. Martin. Publisher USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin. Year 1984 ISBN Description Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics. ].