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Okoumé (Aucoumea klaineana)
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

On the map in 2 countries tree symbol: Gabon

Okoumé

Aucoumea klaineana

Family: Burseraceae

On our map this plant appears in 2 countries and ranks highest in: Gabon, Equatorial Guinea.

A tall tree of the torchwood family, reaching 40 m, with a straight trunk and aromatic, resinous bark. It is a pioneer species: it rapidly colonises abandoned fields, clearings and forest edges, where it forms almost single-species stands. It occurs almost exclusively in Gabon and neighbouring countries. Its pinkish, light wood peels easily, making it one of the best raw materials for plywood, including marine plywood, and its resin was once used to kindle fires and as torches.

Description from: Gabon.

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

Significance in each country

  1. Gabon no. 1 of 5 native

    Tree on the coat of arms of Gabon

    Okoumé appears on Gabon’s coat of arms and for decades accounted for most of the country’s timber exports; Gabon has the world’s largest reserves of the species, and since 2010 it has banned the export of unprocessed logs so that the wood…

  2. Equatorial Guinea no. 3 of 5 native

    Okoumé was the backbone of forestry in mainland Equatorial Guinea and its most important export before the oil boom of the 1990s; today logging is restricted and the forests of Río Muni are partly protected.