SCIENTIFIC NAME
Microberlinia brazzavillensis. Derivation: The genus name micro means small and Berlin, a pupil of Linnaeus. The specific epithet means the plant is "of Brazzaville", a city in the Congo.

FAMILY
Fabaceae or Leguminosae, the legume family; (Caesalpiniaceae) the cassia group.

OTHER NAMES
zebrano, okwen, zingana.

DISTRIBUTION
West Africa, mainly in Gabon and Cameroon, sometimes in pure stands along riverbanks.

THE TREE
Reaching 150 feet in height with a straight, cylindrical bole and a diameter of 4 to 5 feet, zebrawood is an impressive tree. Trees growing this large are usually in inaccessible sites requiring native labor to harvest. The bark is 12 inches thick and always trimmed when the tree is felled. The double compound leaves are 6 inches long and 4 inches wide. The small, alternate leaflets are 0.75 inch long and 0.375 inch wide. The fruit is a bivalve-type pod which contains the seeds.

THE TIMBER
Zebrawood is pale golden brown to pinkish-brown usually with pronounced dark brown streaks. It has a high luster, and a distinct characteristic odor is present when the timber is worked. Average reported specific gravity is 0.70 (ovendry weight/green volume), equivalent to an air-dried weight of 55 pd. It has a somewhat coarse texture. The grain is usually interlocked producing a ribbon figure. This timber is regarded as quite strong but it is not usually used where great strength is required.

SEASONING
Zebrawood air dries well and once dry changes very little. Checking and cracking are not problems with this species. Average reported shrinkage values (green to ovendry) are 6.8% radial, 11.5% tangential and 16.5% volumetric.

DURABILITY
The heartwood of zebrawood is durable and resistant to termite attack.

WORKABILITY
This wood works well with hand tools. Veneer has the best qualities when quartersawn. It takes a good polish and turns easily.

USES
Because of its striking effect, zebrawood is used extensively in veneer form for crossbanding and inlays and for borders on furniture. It also has limited use in furniture, flooring and general construction.

SUPPLIES
Zebrawood is available for the limited purposes for which it is used. It can be regarded as moderately expensive.

Information from A Guide to Useful Woods of the World, Second Edition, James H. Flynn, Jr. and Charles D. Holder, Editors. Forest Products Society, Madison, Wisconsin, 2001.

Photographs from MDArtworks