Guibourtia demeusei aka African Rosewood

Guibourtia demeusei is an evergreen tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. Its common names include African rosewood, bubinga, and Congo copal. It comes from west-central tropical Africa, where the climate is wet. Its range includes Cameroon, Gabon, and the Central African Republic. It also grows in the Republic of the Congo and western Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lives in swamp forests and woods that flood at times. It also grows in forests along rivers, sometimes forming stands of its own species.

This slow-growing tree forms a dense crown above a straight trunk. PFAF gives a cultivated height of 82 feet [25 metres]. It gives a spread of about 66 feet [20 metres]. Forest trees can reach 131 feet [40 metres]. The trunk can remain branch-free for 33–66 feet [10–20 metres]. Its width can reach about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Insects pollinate the flowers. The sources give no flowering season or details of the fruit. Growers can raise new plants from seed.

PFAF lists this tree for USDA zones 10–12. It needs sun and does not grow in shade. It prefers moist to wet ground, matching its flood-prone forest home. It can grow in sand, loam, or clay. Its stated soil range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. Unlike many members of its family, it reportedly cannot fix nitrogen with root bacteria. The sources provide no guidance on pruning or landscape use.

People harvest wild trees for resin and valuable timber. The hard resin, called Congo copal, goes into varnish and lacquer. The inner wood ranges from pink to red-brown, with purple-red and brown streaks. A pale outer band sets it apart from the darker core. The grain may run straight, interlock, or form waves. Fresh-cut wood has a bad smell that fades as it dries. The wood is heavy, hard, and resistant to fungi, termites, and dry-wood borers. These are timber traits, not proof that living trees resist all pests.

Woodworkers use the timber for veneer, fine furniture, cabinets, and floors. Other uses include stairs, panelling, heavy building work, and railway sleepers. The wood dries slowly and can crack or warp. It can also move after drying and quickly blunt tools. The sources report no known food or medicinal uses. They list no known hazards, but provide no direct safety tests. That does not establish safety for people or pets.