Afzelia

Afzelia
Afzelia africana Fruit and Seed - MHNT
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Caesalpinioideae
Tribe:	Detarieae
Genus:	Afzelia Sm.
Species
Afzelia africana Afzelia bella Afzelia bipindensis Afzelia bracteata Afzelia pachyloba Afzelia palembanica Afzelia peturei Afzelia quanzensis Afzelia rhomboidea Afzelia xylocarpa

Afzelia is a genus in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the family Fabaceae (legumes). The thirteen species all are trees, native to tropical Africa or Asia.

Uses

Afzelia species are used primarily for wood, though some species also have medicinal uses. The timber is most commonly traded under the collective name "doussie", as well as under name "afzelia". One of the common names is also "pod mahogany", adding to the confusion surrounding the name mahogany.

The seeds are red and black and are used as beads.

The wood is often used as the surface material for outdoor velodromes.

The highly figured wood of the Asian species, Afzelia xylocarpa, is sold as Afzelia xylay. The seeds and bark of this species are used as medicine.

The dense and wavy wood of an Afzelia africana is used in ship-building.

External links

• ILDIS world database of legumes
• Doussie technological characteristics, Tropix program, CIRAD Agricultural Research for Development Countries