Triplochiton scleroxylon

{{Short description|Species of tree}} {{Speciesbox | image = Triplochiton scleroxylon K.Schum. (GH0301).jpg | image_alt = Specimen collected in Kakum National Park, Ghana | image_caption = Specimen collected in Kakum National Park, Ghana |status = LR/lc |status_system = IUCN2.3 |status_ref = <ref name=iucn/> |genus = Triplochiton |species = scleroxylon |authority = K.Schum. }}

'''''Triplochiton scleroxylon''''' is a tree of the genus ''Triplochiton'' of the family ''Malvaceae''. The timber is known by the common names '''African whitewood''', '''abachi''', '''obeche''' (in Nigeria), '''wawa''' (in Ghana), '''ayous''' (in Cameroon) and '''sambawawa''' (in Ivory Coast). The tree is the official state tree of Ekiti State, Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite news |title= Ekiti adopts 'Obeche' as state tree, plants 500,000 |url=https://www.thehopenewspaper.com/ekiti-adopts-obeche-as-state-tree-plants-500000/ |location=Akure, Nigeria|newspaper=The Hope|date=24 March 2022 |access-date=30 June 2022}}</ref>

==Description== The species is distributed over the tropical areas of West Africa and Central Africa.<ref>[http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/details.php?langue=an&id=121127 African Plant Database]</ref>

==Uses== [[File:The National Archives UK - CO 1069-20-19.jpg|thumb|left|Workmen spraying the trunk of an obeche tree with Gammaxene to protect it against timber-boring insects]] The timber yielded is typically pale yellow and is moderately soft and light for a hardwood.<ref>[https://www.trada.co.uk/wood-species/obeche/ Wood Species Database: Obeche - TRADA]{{dead link|date=November 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> thumb|left|Abachi wood The timber is used in the manufacture of veneer, furniture, picture frames and mouldings. It is also used by guitar makers. Gibson and Fender Japan have used the wood to produce limited edition guitars.<ref>[https://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-japan-jb75-in-ayus-obeche.1217390/ Fender Japan JB75 in Ayus/Obeche - TalkBass.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-Jr-Doublecut-Exclusive.aspx Gibson.com - Gibson Les Paul Jr Doublecut]</ref>

The tree is a host of the African silk moth, ''Anaphe venata'', whose caterpillars feed on the leaves and spin cocoons which are then used to make silk.<ref>[http://reforest-iita.org/home/93-the-african-whitewood-triplochiton-scleroxylon.html African whitewood (Triplochiton scleroxylon) - Reforet IITA]</ref>

The wood is exploited in its natural habitat, a harvest that is unsustainable in some areas. However, it remains classed as 'least concern' on the IUCN Red List.<ref name=iucn>African Regional Workshop (Conservation & Sustainable Management of Trees, Zimbabwe, July 1996). 1998. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/32174/0 ''Triplochiton scleroxylon''.] In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. Downloaded on 24 July 2013.</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

scleroxylon Category:Trees of Africa Category:Flora of Cameroon Category:Flora of Ivory Coast Category:Flora of Ghana Category:Flora of Nigeria Category:Flora of Sierra Leone Category:Least concern plants Category:Wood