Ecologie et gestion des espèces multi-usages du genre Erythrophleum (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae) en Afrique (synthèse bibliographique)

Ecology and management of the multipurpose Erythrophleum species (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae) in Africa. A review. Introduction. Widespread in Africa, the Erythrophleum genus includes four tropical tree species with a high economic and socio-cultural value: Erythrophleum ivorense, Erythrophleum suaveolens, Erythrophleum africanum and Erythrophleum lasianthum. Appropriate knowledge of the ecology and the distribution of these species is required for their sustainable management. This paper is based on an extensive literature review and summarizes the available information on the African Erythrophleum species in terms of botany, phylogeography, ecology, forestry and ethnobotany. Literature. Erythrophleum ivorense, E. suaveolens, E. africanum and E. lasianthum are morphologically different and occur in distinct climatic areas. They are non-pioneer light demander (E. ivorense and E. suaveolens) or pioneer species (E. africanum). Their primary mode of dispersal is via ballochore. The seeds have a dormancy period and can remain in the soil for several years. Their reproductive and foliar phenologies are regular and annual. Growth rate varies between species, ranging from 0.65 cm per year for E. ivorense to 0.16 cm per year for E. africanum. These trees are used in traditional medicine. Only E. ivorense and E. suaveolens (Tali) are mainly logged for timber. Conclusions. Erythrophleum species ecological data are better informed for E. ivorense and E. suaveolens because of their economic importance. This review highlights the existing lack of knowledge regarding the phenology (effects of climate, fructification periods), the minimum diameter of fructification and the mechanisms of natural seed dormancy breakage. Targeting such weaknesses is required to create or re-evaluate methods of conservation and/or enhancement of populations and logging practices