African mahogany

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Mahogany
• Afzelia
• African-mahogany
• Papao

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Pahudia africana
• Afrafzelia africana
• Intsia africana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. It is further identified by the genus Afzelia, specifically as the species Afzelia africana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across various regions within West Tropical Africa. Specifically, its presence is recorded in the nation of Benin. It also grows within the borders of Burkina Faso and Gambia. Furthermore, the species can be found throughout Ghana. Finally, its geographical range extends to Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Afzelia africana is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated on woody stems or branches, a life form that enables it to reach significant heights within its habitat. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage periodically, which is a strategic adaptation to seasonal changes and moisture availability. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte growth habit, and deciduousness defines its biological strategy and presence within its natural environment.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Afzelia africana is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting organism. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits significant stature, with an average height of approximately 18 m, though it can reach a maximum height of up to 30.48 m. As a self-supporting tree, it does not exhibit climbing tendencies such as a vine or liana, maintaining a robust, woody structure throughout its development.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

30.48037064 m

Plant height mean:

18 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Afzelia africana is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism common to most woody tropical trees where carbon dioxide fixation occurs primarily through the enzyme RuBisCO within the mesophyll cells. Unlike plants that utilize C4 or CAM pathways to minimize photorespiration, this species relies on standard C3 metabolism to convert light energy into chemical energy, which supports its robust growth in seasonal forest environments. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, Afzelia africana is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not possess specialized root nodules containing symbiotic bacteria for atmospheric nitrogen fixation; instead, it must rely on the uptake of dissolved nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system to meet its metabolic nitrogen requirements.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Afzelia africa is characterized by the production of dry, pod-type fruits that serve as the vessel for its seeds. These pods are dehiscent, meaning they split open at maturity to facilitate the release of the seeds. The seeds themselves exhibit a consistent volume, with both the minimum and maximum recorded values, as well as the mean, reaching 6400 mm³. In terms of weight, the seeds vary slightly, with a minimum mass of 2.222 g, a maximum mass of 2.77775 g, and an average seed mass of approximately 2.572783333 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, indicating that they are spread via animals, which plays a critical role in the plant's reproductive success and spatial distribution.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit type :

pod

Seed mass max:

2.77775 g

Seed mass mean:

2.572783333 g

Seed mass min:

2.222 g

Seed volume max:

6400 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Afzelia africana has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed, root.

Seed

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)
2. Bollettino chimico farmaceutico

Root

1. International journal of biochemistry and molecular biology

Chemicals

Afzelia africana has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthraquinones, D-galactose, ERIODICTYOL, FAT, Flavonoids.

Anthraquinones

1. Biochemistry research international

D-galactose

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

ERIODICTYOL

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

FAT

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Flavonoids

1. Biochemistry research international

Glycolipids

1. Bollettino chimico farmaceutico

Glycosides

1. Biochemistry research international

L-rhamnose

1. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

Plant Sterols

1. Bollettino chimico farmaceutico

Steroids

1. Biochemistry research international

Activities

Afzelia africana has 5 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiplasmodial.

Antimicrobial

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. International journal of biochemistry and molecular biology

Antioxidant

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. International journal of biochemistry and molecular biology

Antibacterial

1. International journal of biochemistry and molecular biology

Antifungal

1. International journal of biochemistry and molecular biology

Antiplasmodial

1. Biochemistry research international

Medicinal Uses

Afzelia africana has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hernia, malaria, pain, fever, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations