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Microberlinia - A.Chev.

Common Name Zingana
Family Fabaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Occurs in lowland rainforest areas, usually on sandy soils in flat areas[338 ].
Range Western tropical Africa - Cameroon.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full sun
Microberlinia Zingana


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Microberlinia Zingana
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Summary

Zingana or Microberlinia bisulcata is a usually 40 m tall tree with a straight and cylindrical trunk that can be up to 100 cm in diameter and branchless for up to 20 m. It can be found only in Cameroon and currently threatened by habitat loss. The wood is used in turnery, furniture and cabinet making, interior panelling, and veneer.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Microberlinia is an evergreen Tree growing to 35 m (114ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
It can fix Nitrogen.
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. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Berlinia bifurcata (A.Chev.) Troupin Berlinia bisulcata (A.Chev.) Troupin

Plant 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.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Other Uses The heartwood is a yellow-brown to light brown, with dark brown veins; it is clearly demarcated from the 6 - 10cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is coarse; the grain interlocked, sometimes highly interlocked. The wood is moderately heavy to heavy; moderately hard; moderately durable, being resistant to dry wood borers and moderately resistant to fungi and termites. It seasons slowly, with a high risk of checking and distortion; once dry it is moderately stable in service. The wood works well with ordinary sawteeth, but there is a risk of tearing due to the highly interlocked grain - tungsten carbide cutting tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good, but require pre-boring; gluing is correct. A valuable timber species, often with dark and light streaks, it is used in turnery, high class furniture and cabinet making as well as for tool handles, wood-ware, interior panelling and veneer[349 , 848 ]

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A plant of the lowland moist tropics[338 ]. Prefers a sandy soil[338 ]. This is an ectomycorrhizal species and is efficient in phosphorus recycling[349 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed -

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Zingana

Native Range

AFRICA: Cameroon

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.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Status: Critically Endangered A1c+2c

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Microberlinia bisulcataZinganaTree35.0 10-12 FLMNM004
Microberlinia brazzavillensisZinganaTree35.0 10-12 FLMHNM004

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.

 

Expert comment

Author

A.Chev.

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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Subject : Microberlinia  
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