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Afzelia africana Sm. ex Pers. |
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Leguminosae (Caesalpiniaceae) Common name African mahogany |
Authors:
H. Le Houérou with
additional material by S. Petit
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Large tree with a spreading crown; its height varies from 10-20 m and in west Burkina Faso mean average height was found to be 10 m for a tree with a 36 cm diameter. Scaly grey-brown bark, with a pink or red slash. Twigs glabrous, with lenticels. Glabrous leaves up to 30 cm long with 7-17 pairs of leaflets elliptic or ovate 5-15 x 3-9 cm with an obtuse or sub-acuminate tip. Petioles 0.4-1.0 cm long. Nerves protruding, with 8-12 pairs of narrow, secondary connecting nerves. Flowers with one single white petal, with red striae, 1.5 cm long set in terminal panicles up to 20 cm long. Pods flattened 12-17 x 5-8 x 3.5 cm, glabrous, black, woody, persistent bursts open at maturity spreading the seeds. Seeds poisonous, with a sweet edible aril. Tree associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi. Humid and dry forests, tree savannahs, forest galleries. Heliophytic species. Soil Found in well watered sites with a deep sandy soil; can adapt to lateritic soils. Species of the semi-deciduous forest and Sudano-Guinean savannas up to the southern border of the Sahel. Found from Senegal to Uganda especially in areas with rainfall 1200-1800 mm. Propagation Propagation by seeds is easy, and natural regeneration good. However, species not very resistant to fire and is becoming rare. Wood hard, heavy, durable, termite-proof, light brown to red-brown in colour, excellent timber, difficult to work, though. Used in carpentry, canoe and house building, furniture making. A substitute for mahogany, called African mahogany. Sawdust irritating producing sneezing. Used in human medicine :febrifugal, analgaesic, anti-hemorrhageic, laxative, emetic, emmenagogic and aphrodisiac, the foliage is good cattle forage, particularly before the regrowth of grass in the early rainy season. Wild animals browse the arils, and antelopes eat the young shoots. Pods are rich in ashes used for making soap. As the leaves are rich in nitrogen they are used to enrich the soil. Although locally thought to be inhabited by spirits,it is the hunter’s favourite tree. Links References Aubréville 1950 ;Brenan 1957b ; Burkill 1995; Dalziel 1955 ;Geerling 1988 ; Hutchinson & al. 1958 ; Hutchinson J. and J.M. Dalziel (1954); Petit S. (2000); Tiquet J. (1983) |
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