Guibourtia
Encyclopedia
Guibourtia is a flowering plant
genus
in the family
Fabaceae
(legume family). It contains 16 species
, native to tropical regions of Africa
(13 species) and South America
(3 species). They occur in swampy or periodically inundated forest
s, as well as near rivers or at lakeshores.
They are evergreen
tree
s growing to 40–50 m tall, with a trunk diameter of 1–2 m, often with a heavily buttressed
trunk.
South America
Source:
.
The wood is often used by luthier
s for harp
s and other instruments, such as bass guitars, because of its mellow and well-rounded sound. Warwick Bass
is known to use Bubinga and Ovangkol
. It has been used in drum
shells as well. Drum companies such as Tama offer various high-end drum kits with plies of Bubinga in the shells. Crafter
also use bubinga on some of their instruments. Bubinga is also used in both acoustic and electric guitars for its figure and hardness.
Bubinga is sometimes used in the production of archery
bows
, in particular as the main wood of the handle in some flat bows.
Bubinga is also used in furniture making, usually for tables, as large slabs of the dense wood can be cut, and with very little manipulation, be used for a table top.
Bubinga often has an appearance similar to the mineral tiger eye. Light brown through dark brown and red, some samples show as almost purple.
Luxury car maker Lexus also makes use of the wood in their luxury vehicles.
They are known to produce chalconoid
s (chemical compounds related to chalcone), relatives of medically important chemicals called stilbenoids, one famous one being resveratrol
.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
in the family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
Fabaceae
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
(legume family). It contains 16 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, native to tropical regions of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
(13 species) and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
(3 species). They occur in swampy or periodically inundated forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s, as well as near rivers or at lakeshores.
They are evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s growing to 40–50 m tall, with a trunk diameter of 1–2 m, often with a heavily buttressed
Buttress root
Buttress are large roots on all sides of a big bottomed tree or shallowly rooted tree. Typically, they are found in nutrient-poor rainforest soils and do not penetrate to deeper layers. They prevent the tree from falling over while also gathering more nutrients...
trunk.
Species
Africa- Guibourtia arnoldianaGuibourtia arnoldianaGuibourtia arnoldiana is a species of Guibourtia in the family Fabaceae, native to tropical western Africa from the Gabon, Republic of the Congo, western Democratic Republic of the Congo, and northernmost Angola...
(De Wild. & T.Durand) J.Léonard - Benge, Benzi, Bubinga, Essingang, Kevazingo, M'Penze, Mbenge, Mutenye, Olive Walnut, Ovang, Waka, - Guibourtia carrissoana (M.A.Exell) J.Léonard - African Rosewood
- Guibourtia coleospermaGuibourtia coleospermaGuibourtia coleosperma, aka African Rosewood, Large False Mopane, Rhodesian Copalwood, Machibi, is a species of Guibourtia in the family Fabaceae. It is a large evergreen tree found in open woodland and occurring almost exclusively on Kalahari Sand....
(Benth.) J.Léonard - African Rosewood, False Mopane, Rhodesian Copalwood - Guibourtia conjugata (Bolle) J.Léonard
- Guibourtia copallifera Benn.
- Guibourtia demeusei (Harms) J.Léonard - African Rosewood, Akume, Bubinga, Ebana, Essingang, Kevazingo, Kewazingo, Okweni, Ovang, Waka
- Guibourtia dinklagei (Harms) J.Léonard
- Guibourtia ehieGuibourtia ehieGuibourtia ehie is a species of Guibourtia in the family Fabaceae, native to tropical west Africa in Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Nigeria. It prefers closed rain forests and transitional forests, often in small groups...
(A.Chev.) J.Léonard - Amazakoue, Amazoué, Anokye, Black Hyedua, Ehie, Hyedua, Hyeduanini, Ovangkol, Shedua - Guibourtia leonensis J.Léonard
- Guibourtia pellegriniana J.Léonard - Akume, Bubinga, Essingang, Kevazingo, Kevazingu, Ovang, Waka
- Guibourtia schliebeniiGuibourtia schliebeniiGuibourtia schliebenii is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family.It is found in Mozambique and Tanzania.-Sources:* Lovett, J. & Clarke, G.P. 1998. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
(Harms) J.Léonard - Guibourtia sousaeGuibourtia sousaeGuibourtia sousae is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family.It is found only in Mozambique.-Sources:* Bandeira, S. 1998. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
J.Léonard - Guibourtia tessmannii (Harms) J.Léonard - Akume, Bindinga, Bubinga, Essingang, Kevazingo, Ovang, Waka
South America
- Guibourtia chodatiana (Hassl.) J.Léonard (sometimes included in G. hymenaefolia)
- Guibourtia confertiflora (Benth.) J.Léonard
- Guibourtia hymenaefolia (Moric.) J.Léonard
Source:
Uses
The genus is well-known for its luxury timbers. The best-known timber is bubinga (Guibourtia demeusei, aka kevazingo). Another is ovangkol. Species of Guibourtia also produce Congo copalCopal
Copal is a name given to tree resin that is particularly identified with the aromatic resins used by the cultures of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica as ceremonially burned incense and other purposes...
.
The wood is often used by luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
s for harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
s and other instruments, such as bass guitars, because of its mellow and well-rounded sound. Warwick Bass
Warwick (bass guitar)
-Overview:Warwick basses were originally a premium brand offering a small range of models built from high quality and exotic tonewoods with 'Neck-through' design...
is known to use Bubinga and Ovangkol
Guibourtia ehie
Guibourtia ehie is a species of Guibourtia in the family Fabaceae, native to tropical west Africa in Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Nigeria. It prefers closed rain forests and transitional forests, often in small groups...
. It has been used in drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
shells as well. Drum companies such as Tama offer various high-end drum kits with plies of Bubinga in the shells. Crafter
Crafter
Crafter is the international division of Sung-Eum music Co Ltd. It is a manufacturer of acoustic and electric guitars.-History:Founded by Hyun Kwon Park in April 1972, the first "factory" of Sung-Eum music Co Ltd. was in Hyun's own basement. During this so called "early period," they produced...
also use bubinga on some of their instruments. Bubinga is also used in both acoustic and electric guitars for its figure and hardness.
Bubinga is sometimes used in the production of archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
bows
Bow (weapon)
The bow and arrow is a projectile weapon system that predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.-Description:A bow is a flexible arc that shoots aerodynamic projectiles by means of elastic energy. Essentially, the bow is a form of spring powered by a string or cord...
, in particular as the main wood of the handle in some flat bows.
Bubinga is also used in furniture making, usually for tables, as large slabs of the dense wood can be cut, and with very little manipulation, be used for a table top.
Bubinga often has an appearance similar to the mineral tiger eye. Light brown through dark brown and red, some samples show as almost purple.
Luxury car maker Lexus also makes use of the wood in their luxury vehicles.
They are known to produce chalconoid
Chalconoid
Chalconoids, also known as chalcones, are natural phenols related to chalcone. They form the central core for a variety of important biological compounds. They show antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor and anti-inflammatory properties...
s (chemical compounds related to chalcone), relatives of medically important chemicals called stilbenoids, one famous one being resveratrol
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a stilbenoid, a type of natural phenol, and a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by pathogens such as bacteria or fungi....
.