Leplaea thompsonii aka Black Guarea

Leplaea thompsonii, or black guarea, is a forest tree. It stays green year-round and belongs to the Meliaceae family. It comes from western and west-central tropical Africa. Its range runs from Liberia to Cameroon, then south. It reaches Gabon and both Congos. It grows below the main treetops in lowland rainforests. It favours moist forest that remains intact. It also grows in wetter semi-deciduous woods, which lose some leaves.

Trees reach about 115 feet (35 metres) in height. Rare trees reach 180 feet (55 metres). One source gives a spread of 98 feet (30 metres). The trunk grows straight and round, at times with deep grooves. It may lack branches for 66 feet (20 metres). Short, blunt buttresses may form at its base. These are broad flares at the foot of the trunk. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Flowers and fruit can form at any time of year. A lone tree cannot fertilise itself.

Black guarea grows at a slow pace, even when planted. Planted trees in Nigeria averaged 33 feet (10 metres). They reached this height after 25 years. Young trees cope with shade but need some gaps overhead. These gaps help them grow well. More light after their first year may speed growth. Level ground that drains well suits the tree best. It prefers moist soil and accepts sand, loam, or clay. It can grow in poor soil. The soil pH can range from mildly acid to neutral. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12. Fresh seed offers the best chance of success. Seeds soon lose their power to sprout. They take about 20–35 days to sprout. Seedlings suffer when soil dries out.

People cut this tree for timber and use it in local medicine. The wood serves in buildings, floors, and doors. People also use it for cabinets and furniture. Fresh heartwood is orange-brown, then turns a deeper red-brown. A clear band of paler outer wood surrounds it. The wood has a fine texture, moderate weight, and moderate hardness. It resists fungi, but termites and wood-boring insects can attack it. These reports deal with timber, not disease in live trees.

PFAF records no known food use. People use bark remedies in traditional medicine for kidney pain. They also treat rheumatism, leprosy, and bleeding after childbirth with bark. The bark acts as a strong purgative and fish poison. Wood dust can irritate skin and moist body linings. Useful Tropical Plants lists the species as Vulnerable. Forest loss, forest damage, and logging of chosen trees threaten it. It has a wide range but grows in low numbers. It depends for the most part on intact forest.