Entandrophragma utile

Entandrophragma utile
bayanga85 · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Entandrophragma utile
Regnum	Plantae
Unranked divisio	Angiosperms
Unranked classis	Eudicots
Unranked ordo	Rosids
Ordo	Sapindales
Familia	Meliaceae
Genus	Entandrophragma
Species	E. utile
Binomial	Entandrophragma utile
Binomial authority	(Dawe & Sprague) Sprague

Entandrophragma utile is a large tropical tree in the family Meliaceae, valued for its timber and role in African forest ecosystems. Native to central and western Africa, it is associated with commercial logging, regional trade, and traditional uses. Scientific interest in the species intersects with forestry management, conservation policy, and international timber markets.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Entandrophragma utile belongs to the genus Entandrophragma within Meliaceae, a family that includes economically important genera such as Swietenia, Khaya, Cedrela, Melia, and Azadirachta. The species was described in the early 20th century by botanists whose work is cited alongside collections housed in institutions like the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Natural History Museum, London, and the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. Taxonomic treatments reference floras and monographs produced by organizations including the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and regional herbaria in countries such as Cameroon, Gabon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, and Angola. Nomenclatural standards follow the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants and are catalogued in databases maintained by The Plant List, Tropicos, World Flora Online, and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Description

The species is described in botanical literature with measurements and diagnostic characters used by researchers at institutions like Smithsonian Institution, Kew Gardens, and university departments such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Harvard University, and University of Pretoria. Morphological descriptions compare E. utile to congeners including Entandrophragma cylindricum and Entandrophragma candollei. Diagnostic features are detailed in keys from publications associated with the Royal Society, the American Journal of Botany, and regional journals published by organizations like the Southern African Botanical Diversity Network. Herbarium specimens are referenced from collections at Missouri Botanical Garden, National Museum of Natural History (France), and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.

Distribution and Habitat

Range maps and distribution data from GBIF and regional conservation assessments show E. utile occurring in lowland and submontane rainforests across countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo Basin, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and Uganda. Habitat descriptions appear in ecological surveys conducted by teams linked to institutions such as World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, IUCN, BirdLife International, and national forest services like those of Gabon, Cameroon, and Congo Republic. Occurrence is noted in protected areas managed by agencies including IUCN Protected Areas, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Okapi National Park, Salonga National Park, and regional reserves.

Ecology and Biology

Ecological studies referencing E. utile appear in publications from research groups at CIFOR, IITA, FAO, and university departments such as Wageningen University, University of Ghana, and University of Yaoundé. The species contributes to canopy structure and is associated with faunal assemblages including primates studied by teams from Max Planck Society, Primate Specialist Group, and Jane Goodall Institute. Seed dispersal and regeneration dynamics are topics in literature connected to Tropical Ecology, forest carbon research under programs by UNFCCC and REDD+ initiatives. Pests and pathogens relevant to Meliaceae are discussed in reports from Food and Agriculture Organization and plant health bodies such as IPPC and national plant protection organizations.

Uses and Economic Importance

E. utile wood is traded regionally and internationally, entering markets documented by commodity analyses from International Trade Centre, UNCTAD, and studies by economists at World Bank and International Monetary Fund on natural resource exports. Uses include furniture, joinery, veneer, and interior finishing, similar to timber from Khaya ivorensis, African mahogany, Entandrophragma cylindricum (sipo), and species traded through ports managed by authorities in Douala, Libreville, Lagos, Rotterdam, and Antwerp. Value chains are analyzed by NGOs such as Forest Stewardship Council, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, Rainforest Alliance, and research centers like CIFOR and IIED. Traditional uses by communities studied by anthropologists at SOAS University of London, University of Ibadan, and Makerere University include carpentry and local construction; cultural significance is recorded in ethnobotanical surveys archived by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and regional museums.

Conservation and Threats

Conservation status assessments are performed by the IUCN Red List and national conservation agencies in countries such as Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo. Threats include habitat loss from logging, agricultural expansion linked to programs promoted by FAO and regional development initiatives funded by institutions like the African Development Bank and World Bank. Illegal logging and trade are addressed in policy reports from INTERPOL, UNODC, and enforcement actions coordinated with customs authorities of Netherlands, Belgium, China, India, and United States. Conservation responses involve protected area management by IUCN, community forestry promoted by REDD+, certification schemes from FSC and PEFC, and restoration projects documented by WWF and Conservation International.

Category:Meliaceae Category:Flora of Africa Category:Timber trees