Entandrophragma excelsum

Botanical Description

Entandrophragma excelsum is a briefly deciduous tree with a wide-spreading and roundish crown and massive branches; it can grow up to 45 metres tall, exceptionally to 60 metres. The straight, cylindrical bole can be free of branches for up to 27 metres; it is up to 250cm in diameter and can be buttressed to a height of 5 metres[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. , 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 harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of timber. It is grown to provide shade in agroforestry systems, and is also used as a shade tree along the sides of roads[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. Unlike most other members of the genus, which are commercial sources of African mahogany, this species is too rare to be exploited as a major commercial source of timber. Habitat loss is a more serious threat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 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. ].