Common Name:

General Information

Synsepalum afzelii is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 30 metres tall, but is usually smaller. The irregular, twisted bole is fluted at the base and can be up to 170cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild as a local source of food and wood.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire, Guiana, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon.

Habitat

Lowland evergreen rain-forest, particularly in riverine and swamp forests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	20.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Natural regeneration is often abundant, with many seedlings below parent trees[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The pulp has a sweetly sour flavour[]. Fruit an ellipsoid berry c. 2.5 cm long, red when ripe, 1-seeded[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is reddish brown, the sapwood reddish yellow. The grain is usually straight; texture fine. The wood is hard, heavy and durable, though occasionally attacked by termites[]. The wood saws slowly, with occasional charring and a strong dulling effect on sawteeth; it is recommended that logs be quartersawn to reduce warping. The wood can be finished to a smooth surface; the gluing properties are moderate[]. It is used for poles and is suitable for heavy construction, heavy flooring, mine props, vehicle bodies, sporting goods, railway sleepers and implements[].
The wood is used for fuel and can be made into good quality charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed -

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