Kobo Tree, Sierra Leone gum copal
Guibourtia copallifera

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

Guibourtia copallifera is an evergreen Tree growing to 20 m (65ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 20

Where it is found

In nearly pure stands on mountain slopes; torrent sides; on sandstone; flooded valleys.

Western tropical Africa - Guinea-Bissau to Cote D'Ivoire.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Burkina Faso; Côte d'Ivoire; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Liberia; Mali; Senegal; Sierra Leone

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 1

The resin obtained from the tree is used for medicinal purposes. The bark and leaves are also used medicinally.

Other

Rating: 4

The tree is a source of Sierra Leone copal, used in varnishes. Copal is a hard resin, obtained from various tropical trees, that is used to make varnish. The wood has some resemblance to rosewood. The heartwood is pink, vivid red, or red-brown with purple streaks or veins, on exposure becomes yellow or medium brown with a reddish tint. The sapwood is whitish and clearly demarcated. The texture is fine and even, the grain straight or interlocked, lustrous, sometimes highly figured. It has an unpleasant odour when first cut which disappears on drying. Though quite hard and heavy it works, saws, and planes rather well and produces a good finish, glues well. The heartwood has good durability and is resistant to termite attack. It is a good wood for turning, and is used to make fine furniture and cabinetwork, decorative veneers, fancy turnery, inlay work.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Industrial Crop: Medicinal: Most pharmaceuticals are synthesized from petroleum but 25% of modern medicines are based on plants.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Industrial Crop: Medicinal: Most pharmaceuticals are synthesized from petroleum but 25% of modern medicines are based on plants.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Slow

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Gum-copal; true gum-copal; red gum; yellow gum; ‘gun copper’, pau ferro, pó de fero, kaki, mélamberi, u séra, é untu, yuntu, melámberi, bu mana, copalier; copalier de Guinea

Synonyms

Copaifera copallifera (Benn.) Milne-Redh. Copaifera copallina Baill. Copaifera guibourtiana Benn. Copaiva copallifera (Benn.) Kuntze Copaiva guibourtiana Lyons