Copaifera salikounda (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Essential oil / exudate
Medicinal
Timber
Fuel
Conservation status

Copaifera salikounda Heckel

distribution in Africa (wild)

1, flowering twig; 2, flower; 3, fruit. Redrawn and adapted by W. Wessel-Brand

tree habit

crown

base of bole

slash

slash

fruits ans seeds

various parts of the tree (Virtual Field Herbarium)

wood in transverse section

wood in tangential section

wood in radial section

Protologue: Ann. Fac. Sci. Marseille 3: 4, t. 16 (1891).

Family: Caesalpiniaceae (Leguminosae - Fabaceae)

Chromosome number: 2n = 24

Origin and geographic distribution

Copaifera salikounda is distributed from Guinea Bissau eastward to Ghana.

Uses

The wood, traded as ‘etimoe’, is used for producing veneer. It is locally used for making furniture. It is suitable for heavy construction, heavy flooring, joinery, interior trim, mine props, ship and boat building, vehicle bodies, sporting goods, toys, novelties, boxes, crates, agricultural implements and turnery.

The wood and bark contain an aromatic resin, which is locally used for making a scented ungent for cosmetic use. The resin outflow is too limited for commercial production. In Liberia the pounded bark is rubbed on the body as a perfume. In Sierra Leone the fragrant seed is made into a pomade, whereas in Liberia it is dried and powdered to be added to snuff for scenting it. In Guinea fragrant necklaces are made from broken seeds.

In traditional West African medicine, pulped leaves are applied directly onto sores or used in hot poultices, whereas powdered dried leaves and bark are mixed with baked and powdered clay and applied to ulcers. A maceration of the fruit valves is drunk to purify the blood. A cold infusion of the seed is used for the treatment of vertigo.

Production and international trade

Ghana exported small quantities of logs to the United Kingdom around 1960. The wood was probably traded in mixed consignments and thus statistics are not available. In 2000 and 2001 Ghana exported about 55 m³ and 35 m³, respectively, of Copaifera salikounda wood.

Properties

The heartwood is grey with a pinkish tinge when freshly cut, turning coppery reddish brown on exposure; it is distinctly demarcated from the paler, up to 10(–15) cm wide sapwood. The grain is interlocked or wavy, sometimes straight, texture fine to medium and even. When cut, the sapwood exudes a sweetly scented resin; the blackish resin ducts give sawn wood a striped appearance.

The wood is moderately heavy, with a density of about 700–850 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content. It should be dried slowly to avoid distortion. The shrinkage rates are quite high, from green to oven dry 5.1–5.4% radial and 8.4–9.2% tangential. Once dry, the wood is moderately stable to unstable in service. At 12% moisture content, the modulus of rupture is 144–190 N/mm², modulus of elasticity 13,400 N/mm², compression parallel to grain 71–75 N/mm², cleavage 20 N/mm and Chalais-Meudon side hardness 4.9.

The wood works fairly easily with hand and machine tools, but has a tendency to blunt tools and to chip off. It polishes well. Pre-boring before nailing and screwing is advisable. The wood paints satisfactorily, and varnishes and glues well. The wood is durable, being resistant to attacks by termites and xylophagous beetles. The heartwood is resistant to impregnation with preservatives, the sapwood moderately resistant.

The wood contains 36.5% cellulose, 31% lignin, 17% pentosan, 1.0% ash and no silica. The solubility is about 6.6% in alcohol-benzene, 3.9% in hot water and 23.9% in a 1% NaOH solution.

The bark, wood and seeds contain coumarin.

Description

• Deciduous, medium-sized to large tree up to 50 m tall; bole branchless for up to 32 m, straight and cylindrical, up to 200 cm in diameter, base thickened or with narrow root ridges developing into buttresses; bark surface rough, irregularly scaly, greyish brown to dark brown, inner bark hard, fibrous, pinkish to reddish brown, sweetly scented, exuding a clear, brown to purplish, sticky, fragrant resin when cut; crown spreading and densely branched; twigs pale brown hairy.
• Leaves alternate, paripinnately compound with 3–8(–9) pairs of leaflets; stipules c. 2 cm long, caducous; petiole 1–1.5 cm long, with joint at base, rachis 6–13 cm long, grooved above, greenish brown hairy; petiolules very short, twisted; leaflets opposite to slightly alternate, elliptical to oblong, 1.5–6 cm × 1–3.5 cm, base asymmetrical, apex obtuse to notched, margins thickened, leathery, glabrous except at base and margins, with translucent dots, pinnately veined with 10–20 pairs of lateral veins.
• Inflorescence a terminal or axillary panicle 3–12 cm long, with spike-like branches up to 3 cm long, hairy.
• Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, greenish white, fragrant, sessile, with 2 triangular, caducous bracteoles c. 1 mm long; sepals 4, elliptical-oblong, c. 3 mm long, 1 broader than other 3, acute, hairy; petals usually absent; stamens 10, free, unequal in length, up to 7 mm long; ovary superior, sessile, hairy at sides, 1-celled, style c. 3 mm long.
• Fruit an ellipsoid to oblong pod 3–5 cm × 1.5–3.5 cm, slightly flattened, thick-leathery, green-red when ripe, sticky, dehiscent with 2 valves, 1-seeded.
• Seeds c. 2.5 cm × 1.5 cm, black, sweetly scented, with thin, red, waxy aril.
• Seedling with epigeal germination; hypocotyl (3.5–)5–7.5 cm long, epicotyl 4.5–7.5 cm long; cotyledons fleshy, c. 2 cm × 1 cm; first 2 leaves opposite, with 4–5 pairs of leaflets.

Other botanical information

Copaifera comprises about 40 species, of which about 35 occur in tropical America, 4 in Africa and 1 in tropical Asia. Copaifera seems closely related to Baikiaea, Detarium, Sindora and Tessmannia.

Anatomy

Wood-anatomical description (IAWA hardwood codes):

• Growth rings: (1: growth ring boundaries distinct); (2: growth ring boundaries indistinct or absent).
• Vessels: 5: wood diffuse-porous; 13: simple perforation plates; 22: intervessel pits alternate; 23: shape of alternate pits polygonal; 26: intervessel pits medium (7–10 μm); (27: intervessel pits large (≥ 10 μm)); 29: vestured pits; 30: vessel-ray pits with distinct borders; similar to intervessel pits in size and shape throughout the ray cell; 42: mean tangential diameter of vessel lumina 100–200 μm; (43: mean tangential diameter of vessel lumina ≥ 200 μm); 46: ≤ 5 vessels per square millimetre; 47: 5–20 vessels per square millimetre; 58: gums and other deposits in heartwood vessels.
• Tracheids and fibres: 61: fibres with simple to minutely bordered pits; 66: non-septate fibres present; 69: fibres thin- to thick-walled; 70: fibres very thick-walled.
• Axial parenchyma: 79: axial parenchyma vasicentric; 80: axial parenchyma aliform; 81: axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform; 83: axial parenchyma confluent; 89: axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands; 91: two cells per parenchyma strand; 92: four (3–4) cells per parenchyma strand; (93: eight (5–8) cells per parenchyma strand).
• Rays: 97: ray width 1–3 cells; 104: all ray cells procumbent; 115: 4–12 rays per mm.
• Secretory elements and cambial variants: 127: axial canals in long tangential lines.
• Mineral inclusions: 136: prismatic crystals present; 142: prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells.

(P. Mugabi, A.A. Oteng-Amoako & P. Baas)

Growth and development

Seedlings and saplings tolerate shade. The growth of seedlings is slow; they reached about 20 cm tall 4 months after sowing and only 50 cm after 2 years when planted in the field in full sun.

In Sierra Leone the leaves are gradually shed from November to April, when new leaves are produced; fruits have been observed in May and more frequently in November. In Liberia flowering trees have been observed in May and August, and ripe fruits have been collected in October and November. The tree is leafless for a short period at the beginning of the rainy season, before flowering. In Côte d’Ivoire fruiting is in December–March. In Ghana flowering has been recorded from March to May and from September to October, and ripe fruits are present in October–February. The seeds are probably dispersed by birds.

Ecology

Copaifera salikounda is most abundant in moist evergreen forest, but also occurs in semi-deciduous forest. It prefers well-drained locations, but also occurs on periodically inundated land near rivers. It is rare in many regions within its distribution area.

Propagation and planting

Natural regeneration usually occurs abundantly near the mother tree, especially in more or less exposed locations. Copaifera salikounda can be propagated with seeds. The 1000-seed weight is c. 2 kg. The seeds are collected from the ground as soon as possible after falling because they are much appreciated by rodents. They are sown fresh in nursery pots and shaded. Germination takes 5–21 days. The germination rate is about 60%. The seedlings can be planted into the field when they are 4 months old. When planted in full sun, mortality is high, about 60%, suggesting that some shade is needed in early stages of growth. Keeping the seedlings for one year in the nursery may give better results.

Management

Larger Copaifera salikounda trees usually occur scattered and in low densities in the forest. In Ghana it may be locally common; about 230 trees with a diameter less than 30 cm and 80 trees with a diameter over 30 cm were found per ha, indicating good natural regeneration but a high mortality rate during growth.

Harvesting

The prescribed minimum bole diameter for harvesting in Ghana is 70 cm.

Handling after harvest

Logs of Copaifera salikounda do not float in water and cannot be transported by river.

Genetic resources

Copaifera salikounda is included in the IUCN Red list of threatened species as vulnerable because of over-exploitation and habitat loss.

Prospects

The prospects of Copaifera salikounda as a timber tree of commercial importance are limited because of its restricted distribution and scattered occurrence. Research may be warranted on appropriate management methods to reduce the mortality rate of young trees under natural regeneration.

Major references

• Ayensu, E.S. & Bentum, A., 1974. Commercial timbers of West Africa. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 14. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C., United States. 69 pp.

• Bolza, E. & Keating, W.G., 1972. African timbers: the properties, uses and characteristics of 700 species. Division of Building Research, CSIRO, Melbourne, Australia. 710 pp.

• Burkill, H.M., 1995. The useful plants of West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition. Volume 3, Families J–L. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 857 pp.

• Hawthorne, W. & Jongkind, C., 2006. Woody plants of western African forests: a guide to the forest trees, shrubs and lianes from Senegal to Ghana. Kew Publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom. 1023 pp.

• Hubert, D., undated. Sylviculture des essences de forêts denses humides d’Afrique de l’Ouest. 187 pp.

• Irvine, F.R., 1961. Woody plants of Ghana, with special reference to their uses. Oxford University Press, London, United Kingdom. 868 pp.

• Oteng-Amoako, A.A. (Editor), 2006. 100 tropical African timber trees from Ghana: tree description and wood identification with notes on distribution, ecology, silviculture, ethnobotany and wood uses. 304 pp.

• Savill, P.S. & Fox, J.E.D., 1967. Trees of Sierra Leone. Forest Department, Freetown, Sierra Leone. 316 pp.

• Taylor, C.J., 1960. Synecology and silviculture in Ghana. Thomas Nelson and Sons, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 418 pp.

• Voorhoeve, A.G., 1979. Liberian high forest trees. A systematic botanical study of the 75 most important or frequent high forest trees, with reference to numerous related species. Agricultural Research Reports 652, 2nd Impression. Centre for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen, Netherlands. 416 pp.

Other references

• African Regional Workshop (Conservation & Sustainable Management of Trees, Zimbabwe), 1998. Copaifera salikounda. In: IUCN. IUCN Red list of threatened species. Version 2010.4. [Internet] http://www.iucnredlist.org. April 2011.

• Catarino, L., Martins, E.S. & Moreira, I., 2001. Influence of environmental features in the phytogeographic framework of Guinea-Bissau. Systematics and Geography of Plants 71(2): 1079–1086.

• CIRAD Forestry Department, 2009. Etimoe. [Internet] Tropix 6.0. http://tropix.cirad.fr/ africa/ etimoe.pdf. April 2011.

• Costa, J.A.S., 2009. A new combination in the genus Copaifera (Leguminosae). Neodiversity 4: 14–15.

• de la Mensbruge, G., 1966. La germination et les plantules des essences arborées de la forêt dense humide de la Côte d’Ivoire. Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Nogent-sur-Marne, France. 389 pp.

• Hawthorne, W., 1990. Field guide to the forest trees of Ghana. Natural Resources Institute, for the Overseas Development Administration, London, United Kingdom. 275 pp.

• Hawthorne, W.D. & Gyakari, N., 2006. Photoguide for the forest trees of Ghana: a tree-spotter’s field guide for identifying the largest trees. Oxford Forestry Institute, Department of Plant Sciences, Oxford, United Kingdom. 432 pp.

• Kryn, J.M. & Fobes, E.W., 1959. The woods of Liberia. Report 2159. USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin, United States. 147 pp.

• Kunkel, G., 1965. The trees of Liberia. Field notes on the more important trees of the Liberian forests, and a field identification key. Report No 3 of the German Forestry Mission to Liberia. Bayerischer Landwirtschaftsverlag, München, Basel, Wien. 270 pp.

• Mangenot, S. & Mangenot, G., 1957. Nombres chromosomiques nouveaux chez diverses Dicotyledones et Monocotyledones d'Afrique occidentale. Bulletin du Jardin Botanique de l'Etat (Bruxelles) 27(4): 639–654.

• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.

• N’guessan, K., Soro, D. & Amon, A.D.E., 2011. Plantes utilisées en médecine traditionnelle dans le traitement des maladies cardiovasculaires, en pays Abbey et Krobou, dans le Sud de la Côte d’Ivoire. Phytothérapie 9: 199–208.

• Sallenave, P., 1955. Propriétés physiques et mécaniques des bois tropicaux de l’Union française. Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Nogent-sur-Marne, France. 129 pp.

• Savard, J., Besson, A. & Morize, S., 1954. Analyse chimique des bois tropicaux. Publication No 5, Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Nogent-sur-Marne, France. 191 pp.

• Takahashi, A., 1978. Compilation of data on the mechanical properties of foreign woods (part 3) Africa. Shimane University, Matsue, Japan. 248 pp.

• Taylor, C.J., 1960. Synecology and silviculture in Ghana. Thomas Nelson and Sons, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 418 pp.

Sources of illustration

• Voorhoeve, A.G., 1979. Liberian high forest trees. A systematic botanical study of the 75 most important or frequent high forest trees, with reference to numerous related species. Agricultural Research Reports 652, 2nd Impression. Centre for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation, Wageningen, Netherlands. 416 pp.

Author(s)

• A.A. Oteng-Amoako, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), University P.O. Box 63, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

• E.A. Obeng, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), University P.O. Box 63, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

Correct citation of this article

Oteng-Amoako, A.A. & Obeng, E.A., 2012. Copaifera salikounda Heckel. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Lemmens, R.H.M.J., Louppe, D. & Oteng-Amoako, A.A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands.

Accessed 18 December 2024.

• See the Prota4U database.