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Guibourtia copallifera - Benn.

Common Name Kobo Tree, Sierra Leone gum copal
Family Fabaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats In nearly pure stands on mountain slopes; torrent sides; on sandstone; flooded valleys[328 ].
Range Western tropical Africa - Guinea-Bissau to Cote D'Ivoire.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Guibourtia copallifera Kobo Tree, Sierra Leone gum copal


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Guibourtia copallifera Kobo Tree, Sierra Leone gum copal
© Barbara Eichhorn; African plants - A Photo Guide

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Guibourtia copallifera is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Copaifera copallifera (Benn.) Milne-Redh. Copaifera copallina Baill. Copaifera guibourtiana Benn. Copaiva copallifera (Benn.) Kuntze Copaiva guibourtiana Lyons

Habitats

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The resin obtained from the tree is used for medicinal purposes[317 ]. The bark and leaves are also used medicinally[317 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The tree is a source of Sierra Leone copal, used in varnishes[46 , 317 ]. Copal is a hard resin, obtained from various tropical trees, that is used to make varnish[K ]. The wood has some resemblance to rosewood[316 ]. The heartwood is pink, vivid red, or red-brown with purple streaks or veins, on exposure becomes yellow or medium brown with a reddish tint[316 ]. The sapwood is whitish and clearly demarcated[316 ]. The texture is fine and even, the grain straight or interlocked, lustrous, sometimes highly figured[316 ]. It has an unpleasant odour when first cut which disappears on drying[316 ]. Though quite hard and heavy it works, saws, and planes rather well and produces a good finish, glues well[316 ]. The heartwood has good durability and is resistant to termite attack[316 ]. It is a good wood for turning, and is used to make fine furniture and cabinetwork, decorative veneers, fancy turnery, inlay work[316 ].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Industrial Crop: Medicinal  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[755 ].

Carbon Farming

  • Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon  Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.
  • Industrial Crop: Medicinal  Most pharmaceuticals are synthesized from petroleum but 25% of modern medicines are based on plants.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Gum-copal; true gum-copal; red gum; yellow gum; ‘gun copper’, pau ferro, pó de fero, kaki, mélamberi, u séra, é untu, yuntu, melámberi, bu mana, copalier; copalier de Guinea

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Burkina Faso; Côte d'Ivoire; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Liberia; Mali; Senegal; Sierra Leone

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Guibourtia coleospermaBushman bean, Large false mopaneTree20.0 10-12 SLMNM222
Guibourtia demeuseiAfrican RosewoodTree25.0 10-12 SLMHNMWe004
Guibourtia pellegrianaAkume, Bubinga, WakaTree25.0 10-12 SLMHNM004
Guibourtia tessmanniiBubinga, KevazingoTree50.0 10-12 SLMHNM004

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

Benn.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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