Diospyros crassiflora
Diospyros crassiflora is a species of the genus Diospyros in the ebony family of plants ( Ebenaceae ). In the countries of the natural origin of the common name African ebony and level are used. Also the name according to the country of origin, such as Cameroon ebony is common.
- 4.1 wood 4.1.1 Wood Description
- 4.1.2 Specifications for Wood
- 4.1.3 wood properties
- 4.1.4 Durability and use
- 4.1.5 Wood Anatomy
- 6.1 Notes and references
Description
Appearance and leaf
Diospyros crassiflora grows as a medium-sized tree, reaching heights of growth of up to 25 meters. The trunk is cylindrical or grooved, free of knots and has a height of up to 15 meters in height with a diameter of up to 120 centimeters. Other sources give a height of 15 to 18 meters and a trunk diameter of 60 centimeters. There shall be no buttress roots. The black - gray bark has fine longitudinal cracks, which peel off in thicker flakes. The bark of the branches is reddish to gray - brown with longitudinal cracks and the bark of young branches is bald.
The alternate arranged leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The petiole is up to 1.5 inches long, grooved above and almost bald. The simple, thin - leathery, almost bald leaf blade is at a length of 10-21 centimeters and a width of 4 to 10 cm lanceolate -elliptic to oblong -elliptic with wedge-shaped to rounded and slightly asymmetrical Spreitenbasis, abruptly tapered at the top and smooth leaf edge. The upper leaf surface is dark green, the underside lighter. It is Fiedernervatur ago with five to eight pairs of lateral nerves. Stipules absent.
Inflorescence and flower
Diospyros crassiflora is dioecious dioecious ( dioecious ). The pendant, frets then inflorescences are often in older branches. The male inflorescences contain three to six, the female only one or two flowers.
The almost sessile, functionally unisexual flowers are radial symmetry. The fleshy, pink - red calyx is up to 1 cm long and consists of a calyx tube, which is only slightly longer than the rarely four, usually five calyx lobes. The four to six pink- white petals are fused into a 2.5 and 3 inches long, ellipsoidal corolla tube that ends in four to six short Kronlappen. The male flowers have many stamens, which are up to 1.5 centimeters long and have only short stamens; there are rudimentary ovary present. The female flowers contain an upper continuous, spherical with a diameter of about 5 millimeters, eight to zehnkammerigen ovary; there are four to five pen and rudimentary stamens present.
Fruit and seeds
The berries are at a length of about 10 centimeters and a diameter of about 6.5 centimeters ellipsoid to obovate and contain up to ten seeds. The fruits are sparsely hairy to glabrous and yellowish when ripe. The durable, enlarged to a diameter of up to 4 centimeters calyx surrounds the base of the berry. The shiny brown to black seeds are oblong, 5 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1.5 inches thick.
Occurrence and risk
Diospyros crassiflora occurs in Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo. Also deposits in Gabon and the Central African Republic are described. In Nigeria, the cities of Benin City, Abeokuta and Onitsha are reported as deposits, where Diospyros crassiflora is to be found " in groups or small herds of half a mile or less stretch ." Also the banks of the Niger are listed as distribution area.
The threat of Diospyros crassiflora was " critically endangered " according to the Red List of endangered species in the IUCN in 1998 with "endangered " = specified; new data collection is required.
Taxonomy
The first description of Diospyros crassiflora in 1873 by William Philip Hiern in A Monograph of the Ebenaceae. Synonyms Hiern are Diospyros ampullacea Gürke, Diospyros Evila Pierre ex A.Chev. and Diospyros incarnata Gürke ex De Wild.
Use
Wood
Wood Description
The heartwood is purple and different color distinct from the sapwood. Most come just short heartwood of Diospyros crassiflora blanks in free trade. Diospyros crassiflora has the Ebony types the blackest wood. It is very dense and hard, with a fine and even texture is present.
Specifications for Wood
The average dry weight is 1030 kg/m3. The grain is mostly straight to slightly wechseldrehwüchsig. Diospyros crassiflora shows a large shrinkage.
Wood properties
The wood of Diospyros crassiflora is heavy and high resistance to shock and impact resistant. It shows a high compressive strength, and it is very rigid and only allows a low ductility. The suitability for steam bending is described as well. Because of the relatively high density blunt tools very quickly and a processing is difficult. There is a risk of tearing and chipping. Editing with the scraper is, however, quite possible. When sawing fine teeth should be preferred. Bondings are easy to perform and when nailing and drilling should be pre-drilled. It is possible to achieve very high quality surface finishes. The wood can be air dried quickly, with only small surface cracks may occur as a drying error.
Shelf life and use
The wood of Diospyros crassiflora is very durable and can not be treated with wood preservatives. Treatment is not indicated for most applications. Diospyros crassiflora is used as carving and turning wood, for cutlery handles, bagpipes Timm pipes, door handles and instrument keys. Traditionally, parallel rulers Diospyros crassiflora be made . Diospyros crassiflora is attacked in part by bark beetles ( Scolytinae ). In Nigeria Disopyros crassiflora is described as termites.
Wood anatomy
The vessels are arranged diffuse-porous, and the vessels are no specific pattern. Growth layers are discernible. The Intervessel pits are alternate and have a vertical diameter of 3 to 5 microns. There are numerous, very thick-walled fibers with Fasertüpfeln. The Rays are almost exclusively uniseriate, consisting of one to two rare cell types before. Rarely, there are also double-breasted rays per se. Medullary rays are visible only in radial longitudinal section. There are crystals present in the parenchyma, with one crystal per cell is present.
Health risks
The wood dust from Diospyros crassiflora may cause dermatitis, conjunctivitis, skin irritation and sneezing trigger. It is mentioned the possibility of Diospyros crassiflora may act as a skin sensitizer.