View source for Terminalia superba

{{Short description|Species of tree}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Terminalia_superba.JPG
|image_caption = ''Terminalia superba'' at the Luki Biosphere Reserve
|genus = Terminalia
|species = superba
|authority = [[Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler|Engl.]] & [[Friedrich Ludwig Emil Diels|Diels]]
|synonyms = {{species list
|Terminalia altissima|A.Chev.}}
|synonyms_ref = <ref name=POWO>{{cite web |url= https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:171417-1 |title= Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=June 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/55GFQ |title= Terminalia superba Engl. & Diels |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=n.d. |website=Catalogue of Life |publisher=Species 2000 |access-date=June 1, 2023}}</ref>
}}

'''''Terminalia superba''''', the '''superb terminalia''',<ref>{{PLANTS|id=TESU2|taxon=Terminalia|accessdate=8 December 2015}}</ref> '''limba''', '''afara''' (UK), '''korina''' (US), '''frake''' (Africa),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.commercialforestproducts.com/black-limba-white-limba/|title=Black Limba & White Limba|date=4 January 2019|website=Commercialforestproducts.com|access-date=20 January 2019}}</ref> '''African limba wood''', or '''ofram''' (Ghana), is a large tree in the family [[Combretaceae]], native to tropical western [[Africa]].

It grows up to 60 m tall, with a domed or flat crown, and a trunk typically clear of branches for much of its height, buttressed at the base. The leaves are 10&nbsp;cm long and 5&nbsp;cm broad, and are [[deciduous]] in the [[dry season]] (November to February). The flowers are produced at the end of the dry season just before the new leaves; they are small and whitish, growing in loose spikes 10–12&nbsp;cm long. The fruit is a [[Samara (fruit)|samara]] with two wings.

==Uses==
The wood is either a light (white limba or korina) or with dark stripes (black limba) hardwood. It is used for making furniture, table tennis blades (as outer ply), and musical instruments and prized for its workability and excellent colour and finish. The most well known example of its use in guitars is when Gibson produced their now highly sought-after [[Flying V]] and [[Gibson Explorer|Explorer]] guitars in 1958. Makers of table tennis blades choose limba, and in particular black limba, for its flexibility and the idea that it enhances top-spin. Limba is used in some blades made by [[Stiga]] and OSP. When finished in a clear coat, white limba results in an attractive light golden colour.

It is not rare nor expensive due to overharvesting, but rather is plentiful due to efforts in the 1950s to preserve a natural supply of the wood. This species is reportedly relatively secure, with little or no threat to its population within its natural growth range, according to the [[World Conservation Monitoring Center]] in 1992.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Terminalia superba-Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale (1).jpg
File:Terminalia superba-Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale (2).jpg
File:Terminalia superba-Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale (3).jpg
File:Terminalia superba-Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale (4).jpg
File:Black Limba Commercial Forest Products.jpg|A rare board of 8/4 x 15" wide Quartersawn Black Limba with heavy flame figure
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Commons category}}
* Gledhill, D. (1972). ''West African Trees''. London: Longman. {{ISBN|0-582-60427-3}}.

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1419734}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Terminalia (plant)|superba]]
[[Category:Trees of Africa]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Adolf Engler]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Ludwig Diels]]