Gilbertiodendron limba (PROTA)

In traditional medicine in Sierra Leone, leaves have been used against fever, and leaf ash mixed with water is applied on ulcers. Leafy twigs are used for the treatment of pelvic inflammation in women.

Properties

The heartwood is dark brown, and distinctly demarcated from the yellowish sapwood. The sapwood usually has a lustrous surface. The texture is medium. The wood is heavy and hard, easy to work and durable.

Description

Evergreen, small to medium-sized tree up to 25 m tall; bole often crooked, usually low-branching, up to 70 cm in diameter, without buttresses; bark surface fairly smooth, with some scales peeling off and leaving yellowish marks, inner bark thin, red-brown, sometimes with a purple tinge; crown with drooping branches.
Leaves alternate, paripinnately compound with (1–)2(–4) pairs of leaflets; stipules lanceolate, c. 1 cm long, with rounded or kidney-shaped appendages c. 2 cm × 1 cm, persistent; petiole short, rachis 1.5–10 cm long, reddish brown, densely hairy; petiolules short, stout, reddish brown; leaflets opposite, oblong to obovate or elliptical, 6–30 cm × 3.5–10 cm, base unequal, apex obtuse, leathery, glabrous, pinnately veined with 15–25 pairs of lateral veins.
Inflorescence an axillary or terminal panicle, branched, reddish brown hairy.
Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, 5-merous, sweetly fragrant; pedicel 1–2.5 cm long, hairy; bracteoles 2, c. 1.5 cm long; sepals linear-triangular, c. 8 mm long; petals unequal, 1 up to 2 cm × 2.5 cm, deeply 2-lobed, white inside, white or pinkish outside, other petals linear-triangular, c. 8 mm long; fertile stamens 3, other stamens rudimentary; ovary superior, brown hairy, 1-celled, style slender, reddish.
Fruit a flattened obovoid pod, 15–20(–28) cm × 4–7.5 cm, with a prominent longitudinal ridge and numerous transversal veins, dehiscent with 2 woody valves, several-seeded.
Seeds slightly quadrangular, flattened, up to 4.5 cm × 3.5 cm, brown.
Seedling with epigeal germination; hypocotyl 4–6 cm long, epicotyl 12–15 cm long, 4-ridged; cotyledons fleshy, c. 3 cm long; first leaves opposite, with 1 pair of leaflets.

Other botanical information

Gilbertiodendron comprises about 25 species and is restricted to tropical Africa, distributed from Guinea to DR Congo and Angola. It was formerly included in Macrolobium, which now consists of tropical American species only, and is closely related to Pellegriniodendron, which is even considered congeneric.

The wood of several other West African Gilbertiodendron species is used for similar purposes as that of Gilbertiodendron limba.

Gilbertiodendron bilineatum

Gilbertiodendron bilineatum (Hutch. & Dalziel) J.Léonard is similar to Gilbertiodendron limba in appearance and area of distribution. It is a medium-sized tree up to 33 m tall with bole up to 95 cm in diameter, distributed from Sierra Leone to Ghana. The wood is used for flooring in Sierra Leone. Gilbertiodendron bilineatum is classified as vulnerable in the IUCN Red list of threatened species, due to habitat decline caused by mining, logging and commercial forestry activities.

Gilbertiodendron ivorense

Gilbertiodendron ivorense (A.Chev.) J.Léonard is a small to medium-sized tree up to 20 m tall with a fairly long bole, distributed in Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire. In Liberia the wood is used for planks and construction. The wood has a density of about 750 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content.

Gilbertiodendron preussii

Gilbertiodendron preussii (Harms) J.Léonard is a medium-sized to fairly large tree up to 35 m tall with a straight bole branchless for up to 24 m and up to 120 cm in diameter, distributed from Sierra Leone to Ghana and from Cameroon to Gabon. In Liberia, where it is known as ‘red oak’, the wood is used for construction. It has also been used for canoes and railway sleepers and is considered suitable for flooring, joinery, furniture and tool handles. The wood has a density of 720—900 kg/m³ at 15% moisture content.

Gilbertiodendron splendidum

Gilbertiodendron splendidum (A.Chev. ex Hutch. & Dalziel) J.Léonard is a medium-sized tree up to 33 m tall with a bole up to 90 cm in diameter. It is distributed in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. In Ghana the wood is recommended for construction, vehicle bodies, railway sleepers and draining boards. In Liberia it is used for construction. It is suitable for poles, piles, flooring, joinery, ship building, furniture, agricultural implements and handles. The wood is moderately heavy with a density of about 720 kg/m³ at 12% moisture content. Gilbertiodendron splendidum is classified as vulnerable in the IUCN Red list of threatened species, due to habitat decline caused by mining, logging and commercial forestry activities.

Anatomy

Wood-anatomical description (IAWA hardwood codes):

Growth rings: 1: growth ring boundaries distinct.
Vessels: 5: wood diffuse-porous; 13: simple perforation plates; 22: intervessel pits alternate; 23: shape of alternate pits polygonal; 24: intervessel pits minute (≤ 4 μm); 25: intervessel pits small (4–7 μm); 29: vestured pits; 30: vessel-ray pits with distinct borders; similar to intervessel pits in size and shape throughout the ray cell; 43: mean tangential diameter of vessel lumina ≥ 200 μm; 46: ≤ 5 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.
Axial parenchyma: 79: axial parenchyma vasicentric; 80: axial parenchyma aliform; 81: axial parenchyma lozenge-aliform; (89: axial parenchyma in marginal or in seemingly marginal bands); 91: two cells per parenchyma strand; 92: four (3–4) cells per parenchyma strand.
Rays: 96: rays exclusively uniseriate; 104: all ray cells procumbent; 106: body ray cells procumbent with one row of upright and/or square marginal cells; 115: 4–12 rays per mm. Mineral inclusions: 136: prismatic crystals present; 142: prismatic crystals in chambered axial parenchyma cells; 143: prismatic crystals in fibres.

(E. Uetimane, P.E. Gasson & E.A. Wheeler)

Growth and development

Gilbertiodendron limba seedlings are tolerant of shade and grow slowly. Flowering of trees is in February–July and fruiting takes place in February–September. Ectomycorrhizae are present on the roots.

Ecology

Gilbertiodendron limba occurs widespread and gregariously in evergreen forest, including swamp forest, riverine forest and secondary forest. It is usually found in areas with an average annual rainfall of 1500–2500 mm.

Propagation and planting

Natural regeneration is abundant under mother trees. The 1000-seed weight is c. 10 kg. Seeds usually germinate in 8–15 days, with germination rates over 80%.

Genetic resources

Although Gilbertiodendron limba has a limited distribution area, it is locally common with no indications of overexploitation. It is therefore unlikely to be threatened by genetic erosion.

Prospects

The wood of Gilbertiodendron limba will remain useful as a domestic timber. Very little is known about the wood technological properties of this species, and further research is warranted.

Major references

Bâ, M., Plenchette, C., Duponnois, R., Moyersoen, B. & Diédhiou, A.G., 2012. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis of tropical African trees. Mycorrhiza 22: 1–29.

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.

de Koning, J., 1983. La forêt de Banco. Part 2: La Flore. Mededelingen Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 83–1. Wageningen, Netherlands. 921 pp.

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.D., 1995. Ecological profiles of Ghanaian forest trees. Tropical Forestry Papers 29. Oxford Forestry Institute, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. 345 pp.

Keay, R.W.J., Hoyle, A.C. & Duvigneaud, P., 1958. Caesalpiniaceae. In: Keay, R.W.J. (Editor). Flora of West Tropical Africa. Volume 1, part 2. 2nd Edition. Crown Agents for Oversea Governments and Administrations, London, United Kingdom. pp. 439–484.

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.

Poorter, L., Bongers, F., Kouamé, F.Y.N. & Hawthorne, W.D., 2004. Biodiversity of West African forests: an ecological atlas of woody plant species. CABI, Wallingford, United Kingdom. 521 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.

Other references

Abbiw, D.K., 1990. Useful plants of Ghana: West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications, London and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 337 pp.

Allen, O.N. & Allen, E.K., 1981. The Leguminosae: a source book of characteristics, uses and nodulation. MacMillan, London, United Kingdom. 812 pp.

Aubréville, A., 1959. La flore forestière de la Côte d’Ivoire. Deuxième édition révisée. Tome premier. Publication No 15. Centre Technique Forestier Tropical, Nogent-sur-Marne, France. 369 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.

Bouquet, A. & Debray, M., 1974. Plantes médicinales de la Côte d’Ivoire. Travaux et Documents No 32. ORSTOM, Paris, France. 231 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., 1998. Gilbertiodendron bilineatum. In: IUCN. Red list of threatened species. Version 2011.2. [Internet] http://www.iucnredlist.org. February 2012.

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

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

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

Takahashi, A., 1978. Compilation of data on the mechanical properties of foreign woods (part 3) Africa. Shimane University, Matsue, Japan. 248 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. Gilbertiodendron limba (Scott-Elliot) J.Léonard. [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. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.

Accessed 17 September 2026.

See the Prota4U database.