Entandrophragma caudatum

Botanical Description

Mountain mahogany is a deciduous tree; it can grow from 3 - 30 metres tall. The straight bole sometimes branches from around 2 metres, at other times it can be unbranched for several metres; it is up to 150cm in diameter. The bark is thick and rough, flaking in large irregular scales to expose a buff undersurface[ 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. , 663 Title Flora of Southern Africa Publication Author Roux J.P. Website http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=662545 Publisher Year 2003 ISBN Description An excellent on-line resource. ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of wood and materials . The good quality wood can be used for furniture and cabinet making, but supplies are too limited for it to be of much economic importance[ 663 Title Flora of Southern Africa Publication Author Roux J.P. Website http://plants.jstor.org/search?st=662545 Publisher Year 2003 ISBN Description An excellent on-line resource. ]. Unlike other members of the genus, which provide a commercial source of mahogany, this species is generally too rare for more than limited exploitation. 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. ].