Entandrophragma cylindricum aka Sapele Mahogany

Entandrophragma cylindricum also goes by the name sapele mahogany. It belongs to Meliaceae, the mahogany family. It grows wild in tropical Africa, from Sierra Leone to Uganda. Its range also reaches south to Angola. It grows in moist forests at low and middle heights. Some forests keep their leaves; others shed part of them. Heavy logging has raised fears about the range of its genes. Useful Tropical Plants cites the 2009 IUCN assessment. That review lists the tree as Vulnerable.

This tree grows slowly, with a round crown and straight trunk. It may shed its leaves or stay green year-round. PFAF gives a height of 164 feet [50 metres]. Forest accounts give 131–197 feet [40–60 metres]. Rare trees reach 213 feet [65 metres]. PFAF lists a spread of 98 feet [30 metres]. The trunk can reach 6.6 feet [2 metres] across. Low, blunt root flares, called buttresses, brace its base. Some trunks have no branches for 131 feet [40 metres].

Sapele needs a warm, moist climate and soil that drains well. It favours a dry season of two to four months. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12. It can grow in sand, loam and clay. Soil may range from slightly acid to slightly alkaline. Young seedlings need light shade for their first two years. Growers should then give them more light in stages. Older trees need lots of light. Yet some research finds they cope well with deep shade. Seedlings may live in shade for years but grow little.

People plant sapele by roads and for shade and looks. Its wood has great trade value in tropical Africa. People use it for floors, wall panels and stairs. They also make furniture and musical instruments from it. The bark yields an essential oil and holds tannins. Bark extracts have helped control weevils in stored maize. Trials have used bark tannins to make resin for lacquer. These uses differ from its role as a live landscape tree.

Fresh seed gives the best chance of growing new trees. Seed can lose its power to sprout within three weeks. Insects can harm stored seed. Seeds start to sprout about two to four weeks after sowing. PFAF lists no known food uses or hazards. This does not prove safety for people or pets. Traditional healers use bark remedies for chest complaints, pain and swelling. They also put bark pulp on wounds and boils. A compound from the bark and heartwood proved toxic to tadpoles.