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Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxylon)
Photo: Collector(s): Amarh, Amponsah Identifier: Gabriel Ameka, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

On the map in 3 countries tree

Obeche

Triplochiton scleroxylon

Family: Malvaceae

On our map this plant appears in 3 countries and ranks highest in: Cameroon, Ghana, Central African Republic.

A huge tree of semi-deciduous forests, growing to 50 m tall, with a straight, pale trunk supported by tall buttress roots. It occurs from Guinea to Cameroon and the Central African Republic, often at forest edges and on former farmland. Its wood is very light, soft and a poor conductor of heat, making it ideal for sauna benches and panelling, as well as for plywood, mouldings and models.

Description from: Cameroon.

More: Wikipedia (en) Plants of the World Online (Kew)

Significance in each country

  1. Cameroon no. 3 of 8 native

    Ayous is the most heavily logged timber species in Cameroon, one of Africa’s largest exporters of tropical timber; the sawmills of the country’s east depend largely on processing it.

  2. Ghana no. 4 of 8 native

    For decades wawa was the most important species in Ghana’s timber industry, accounting for a large share of the country’s timber harvest. Because of intensive logging, it is now being replanted in forest reserves.

  3. Central African Republic no. 5 of 5 native

    Together with sapele, ayous accounts for most of the timber harvested in the Central African Republic; timber is one of the country’s most important sources of foreign currency, alongside diamonds and gold.