Family Caesalpinioddeae
The pod mahogany is a medium to large, deep-rooted tree, that may grow up to 35 m high, with a large spreading crown. Its somewhat straight trunk may be up to 1 m in diameter and has a grey-green or creamy grey, smooth bark that is beautifully patterned with raised rings that flake off irregularly, leaving circular patches.
The
new leaves, which are alternating, are usually copper-coloured and attractively
glossy. They become dark green as they age. They are up to 300 mm long and are
divided once, with 4-7 pairs of leaflets. Flowers are sweet-scented, borne in
erect clusters, and are green with pinkish red petals Large, brown, woody, flat
pods, 170 mm long, are produced in late summer. In autumn they split open to
release distinctively black seeds with scarlet arils. There may be up to 10
seeds per pod.
DistributionAfzelia quanzensis is widespread. It grows in low altitude woodland and dry forests, usually in deep sand. Its distribution stretches from Northern KwaZulu-Natal, through to Limpopo, Zimbabwe and other neighbouring countries. It is also found in Somalia.
The genus Afzelia was named in honour of Adam Afzelius of Uppsala, who lived in Somalia. The specific name quanzensis refers to the Cuanza River in Angola, w here the tree was first found.
Afzelia
quanzensis is a member the subfamily
Caesalpinioideae (the Bauhinia subfamily). Members are characterized by
alternate paripinnate leaves with usually opposite leaflets. Stipules that are
rarely spiny are always present, especially in young growth. The flowers are
relatively large and showier than those of other subfamilies.
The light red-brown wood of the pod mahogany is hard and has a good grain. It has been used for building, making plywood, furniture, panelling and for flooring. Furniture made from this wood is traded under the name chamfuti. Wood is termite and borer resistant and can therefore be used for corner poles for fencing. The largest specimens of this species in South Africa have been felled and cut up for railway sleepers.
Seeds
of this tree are in great demand for ornaments and charms. They are often used
as necklaces or made into trinkets and sold as curios.
A
root infusion provides a remedy for bilharzia and for certain eye complaints.
An infusion made from roots and bark is believed to bring huntsmen luck if they
wash with it. This infusion needs to be steeped overnight to be effective.
Powered bark mixed with one's own body oil is believed to ward off attacks and
bad luck.
Eland and grey duiker browse the leaves of the pod mahogany. Elephants eat bark and leaves. The sweet-scented flowers attract a number of insects, which in turn attract insect-eating birds. Seeds are popular with rodents. Hornbills normally open freshly split pods to feed on the fresh arils. In the process, they discard seeds, which drop on the ground where they either germinate or are eaten by rodents.
Larvae
of most charaxes butterflies feed on the leaves of this tree. These include
giant, large blue, blue-spotted and golden piper charaxes.
