African Mahogany

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• African Mahogany
• Tiama Mahogany
• edinam
• Mahogany

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Entandrophragma angolense var. beninense
• Entandrophragma angolense var. dolichocarpum
• Entandrophragma candolleana
• Entandrophragma casimirianum
• Entandrophragma gregoireianum
• Entandrophragma macrophyllum
• Entandrophragma leplaei
• Entandrophragma pierrei
• Entandrophragma platanoides
• Entandrophragma septentrionale
• Swietenia angolensis
• Entandrophragma angolense var. macrophyllum
• Entandrophragma angolense var. septentrionale
• Entandrophragma rederi

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 Sapindales, it is classified under the family Meliaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Entandrophragma.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Entandraphragma angolense, exhibits a specific geographical range within the West Tropical Africa region. It can be found growing across several diverse nations in this part of the continent. Specifically, its distribution includes the territories of Ghana and Guinea. The species is also documented to exist within the borders of Ivory Coast and Liberia. Finally, its presence extends further east into the country of Nigeria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Entandrophragma angolense is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its ecosystem over many years. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, meaning it undergoes a seasonal shedding of its foliage.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Entandrophragma angolense is characterized by its stature as a large, woody tree that exhibits a self-supporting growth form. This species is primarily terrestrial in its habitat and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. Reaching significant dimensions in the forest canopy, the plant typically maintains a mean height of approximately 30.2 m, though it is capable of reaching a maximum height of up to 48.77 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

48.76859303 m

Plant height mean:

30.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Entandrophragma angolense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism typical of many tropical woody species that relies on the direct fixation of carbon dioxide via the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle. In terms of its nutrient acquisition processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Entandrophragma angolense is characterized by a highly flexible flowering period that can occur at any time throughout the year, spanning from January through December, though the specific timing remains variable. During its reproductive cycle, the plant produces seeds with a very consistent and narrow mass range. The mean seed mass is recorded at approximately 0.376565 g, with individual seed weights fluctuating only slightly between a minimum of 0.37313 g and a maximum of 0.38 g.

Flowering time :

Jan

Seed mass max:

0.38 g

Seed mass mean:

0.376565 g

Seed mass min:

0.37313 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Entandrophragma angolense has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, leaf, seed.

Stem

1. Fitoterapia
2. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Leaf

1. Phytochemistry

Seed

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Chemicals

Entandrophragma angolense has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include METHYL ANGOLENSATE, Compound 5, triterpenoids.

METHYL ANGOLENSATE

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Fitoterapia

Compound 5

1. Fitoterapia

triterpenoids

1. Fitoterapia

Activities

Entandrophragma angolense has 1 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic.

Antidiabetic

1. Fitoterapia

Conditions

Entandrophragma angolense has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Antidiabetic, cancer, fever, malaria, peptic ulcer.

Antidiabetic

1. Fitoterapia

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fever

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Malaria

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Peptic ulcer

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Preparations

Entandrophragma angolense has 4 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include bark, crude extracts from the stem bark and seeds, leaf extract, stem bark.

Bark

1. Natural product research
2. Fitoterapia

Crude extracts from the stem bark and seeds

1. African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM

Leaf extract

1. Phytochemistry

Stem bark

1. Fitoterapia