Meliaceae

Synonyms

• Swiitenia senegalensis Desr.

Local vernacular names

Description

A tree with shining foliage and wide dense crown; tall with height up to 35 m., more frequently between 15 to 20 m. Mean average height was found to be 15 m with an average of 54 cm diameter. Trunk can be without branches for up to 10 m. The bark is greyish and scaly. New leaves emerge during the dry season (December).

Fruits 4-6 cm diam. Leaflets usually drying pale glaucous green. Sepals pale green; petals and staminal tube cream; stigma yellow.

Habitat

Savannas to humid forests. Heliophyte; may grow in isolation.

Soil

Found on deep and saturated soils, often within the riparian zone.

Distribution

From Senegal to Sudan and Uganda. Species of sudano-guinean savannas, from 14°latitude to humid forest border (rainfall: 650 - 1700mm). It was introduced in many countries (Caribbean islands, French Guyana).

Propagation

Young plants not resistant to fire and cattle browsing. When the bark grows thicker, the tree becomes resistant to fire. Blossoming from November to December. Biannual fructification. Anemochorous seeds and easy to germinate.

Products & uses

Timber of good quality. It was planted along roads and in small plots during the colonial period. First ‘acajou’ exported to Europe. Wood also used for mortars. Poor quality firewood. Ashes are used for millet conservation. The bark is often collected for the bitter properties (meliacins). Bark, resin, leaves are frequently used in human medicine for example as febrifugal, tonic, sometimes abortive, and for many diseases.

Foliage is used as forage for cattle from lopped trees. Pastoralists consider the foliage of poor nutritive value for cattle but useful to cure and prevent livestock diseases. The oil in the seed is used for cosmetics. The flower is melliferous.

Links

References

De Bie S. et al. (1998); Geerling C. (1988); Hutchinson J. and Dalziel J.M. (1954); Maydell von H.J. (1983); Petit S. (2000); Tiquet J. (1983)