Entandrophragma candollei aka Cedar Kokoti

Entandrophragma candollei has the common name West African cedar. It is part of Meliaceae, the mahogany family. Its home range spans western and west-central tropical Africa. It grows in moist forests that shed some seasonal leaves. It grows in evergreen forest too. Logging has put heavy pressure on wild trees. The supplied source on its status lists it as Vulnerable from 2009.

This large tree grows slowly and sheds its leaves each year. Published sizes reach 164 feet [50 metres] in height. They reach 98 feet [30 metres] in width. Some wild trees reach 230 feet [70 metres]. The straight, round trunk may lack branches for 98 feet [30 metres]. It can reach 13 feet [4 metres] across. Broad buttresses, or flared trunk bases, may rise above ground. They can reach 13 feet [4 metres] high. These may merge into large roots along the soil surface. Some of the largest trees may near a thousand years old.

Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. A lone tree cannot fertilise itself. Seed crops vary; trees with larger trunks bear more fruit. Cutting trees with trunks below about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] across sharply cuts fruit yield. Trees grow slowly even when raised in plantations. In Guinea, they averaged 9 feet [2.7 metres] after six years. Fresh seed can start to sprout within a week. Reports give a sprout rate of 60 to 75 percent.

This tree suits the moist tropics and needs moist soil. The soil must drain well. It accepts sand, loam, or clay. It also grows in soils from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12. Trees need sun once settled, but young plants need shade. Sun scorches nursery seedlings that lack shade. Light shade matters for two to three years after planting. Gaps in the forest can help young trees take root. Natural regrowth is often sparse where suitable parent trees are absent.

People use its wood to build structures, boats, and floors. They also make furniture, veneer, and plywood from it. The heartwood is brown to purple-brown and darkens with exposure. Wood may warp as it dries, but stays stable once dry. Beetles and marine borers can harm the wood. Traditional healers use bark sap to ease pain. They also put root-bark sap on snakebites. These uses do not prove that treatment works or is safe. Sources report no known food uses or hazards. This lack of reports does not prove the plant safe to eat.