Microberlinia brazzavillensis aka Zingana

Microberlinia brazzavillensis is a large evergreen tree. It belongs to the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include zingana, zebrano and allen ele. It comes from west-central tropical Africa. Its range includes Congo and Gabon. There it grows in coastal forests with a wet tropical climate. People cut wild trees for their valued wood. Some of this wood goes for export.

Published heights give 115 feet [35 metres]. The stated spread reaches about 98 feet [30 metres]. Some trees reach 148 feet [45 metres] tall. The trunk grows straight and round. Short buttresses brace its base. The trunk can measure nearly 5 feet [1.5 metres] across. Its clear length may reach 49 feet [15 metres]. This is short for a tree of such great height.

This fast-growing tree needs full sun. It cannot grow in shade. It prefers moist ground that drains well. It can grow in sand, loam or clay. Mildly acid to neutral soils suit it. It also copes with salt in the soil. It withstands strong winds but not direct coastal exposure. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 10–12 for growing it. The sources describe growing new plants from seed. They also report root nodules, which house nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These microbes supply nitrogen to the tree. They may help nearby plants too.

The wood has a pale yellow-brown core with thin, dark stripes. The stripe pattern varies from one piece to another. White sapwood forms a clear band around this darker core. The grain tends to wave or interlock. The surface has a sheen. Fresh wood smells unpleasant, but the smell fades as it dries. The lasting heartwood resists termites and fungi that rot wood. Uses include thin wood sheets for show and turned objects. People also use it for tool handles and skis. The wood takes glue well. Yet planing it to a smooth finish can prove hard. Thin sheets need care to prevent cracks.

Wild trees grow sparsely in many places. Some groups in Gabon appear stable, though. Useful Tropical Plants reports a Vulnerable assessment. This comes from the 2009 IUCN Red List. That dated report does not establish its current status. Neither source records food uses or uses as medicine. Both report no known hazards. This does not establish that any part is safe to eat. The accounts give no details of flowers, fruit or leaf shape. They give no specific advice on garden pests or diseases.