Afzelia pachyloba

Harms

Forest afzelia

Fabaceae Edible: Seeds, Seeds - oil 1 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Afzelia pachyloba, commonly known as afzelia, white afzelia, doussié, or doussié blanc, is a species of tree in the family Fabaceae that is native to tropical Western and Central Africa. It is harvested for its timber.

Description

A large tree. It grows 40 m high. It has a straight trunk 20 m tall and 80 cm across. It has small buttresses 1 m high. There are 7-8 pairs or leaflets. The fruit are large pods and are grey and woody. The pods are kidney shaped. They are 12 cm wide and woody. They have black seeds with a yellow aril. They are 2.5-3 cm long.

Edible Uses

The seeds and seed oil are edible.

Distribution

It is a tropical plant. It grows in high rainforest. It suits humid locations.

Where It Grows

Secondary forests and clearings.

Other Uses

The bark of most species in this genus is a source of tannins. The heartwood is golden-brown to light red-brown, sometimes with darker veins; it is clearly demarcated from the 2 - 5cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is coarse; the grain straight or interlocked. The wood is light in weight, soft, durable to very durable, being resistant to termites and dry wood borers and very resistant to fungi. It seasons slowly, with a slight risk of checking or distortion; once dried it is stable in service. The wood is hard to cut, stellite-tipped and tungsten carbide tools are recommended; nailing and screwing are good, but pre-boring is recommended; gluing is correct for internal use; filling is recommended to obtain a good finish. The wood has a wide range of uses, including for ship building, construction, interior and exterior joinery and panelling, cabinetwork, cooperage, shingles etc.

Synonyms

Afzelia zenkeri HarmsAfzelia caudata Hoyle

Also Known As

Dussia

References (9)

Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 12 (Also as Afzelia brieyi)
Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 49:426. 1913
Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3. Kew.
Dalziel, J. M., 1937, The Useful plants of west tropical Africa. Crown Agents for the Colonies London.
Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 24

Show all 9 references

Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 120
Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 13:369. 1914 (As Afzelia brieyi)
Vivien, J. & Faure, J.J., 1985, Abres des forets dense d'Afrique Centrale. Agence de Cooperation Culturelle et Technique. Paris. p 64
World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew