Family:
Fabaceae Lindl.
Genus:
Erythrophleum Afzel. ex G.Don

Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan

This species is accepted, and its native range is Tropical Africa.

[FTEA]

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit
Tree 9–30 m. high, with rough bark.
Morphology Branches
Young branchlets slightly puberulous to glabrous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves:petiole with rhachis 11–35 cm. long; pinnae 2–4 pairs, 9–19 cm. long; leaflets 7–14 per pinna, ovate, ovate-elliptic, or rarely lanceolate, usually asymmetric, mostly 2.7–9 cm. long and 1.3–5.3 cm. wide, obtusely ± acuminate at apex, glabrous or sometimes with spreading pubescence on midrib beneath; petiolules 3–5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes 3–8(–11) cm. long, shortly pubescent or puberulous (including the flowers).
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers yellowish-white to greenish-yellow.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-lobes 1–1.5 mm. long, distinctly connate below.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2–3 mm. long, 0.5 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamen-filaments glabrous or nearly so.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods often slightly curved, dehiscing, at least initially, along one suture only, 6–11-seeded, 8–17 cm. long, 3–5.3 cm. wide, at apex broadly rounded; stipe of pod often lateral.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds brown, oblong-ellipsoid, 14–17 mm. long, 10–12 mm. wide, 4–7 mm. thick, with thick endosperm.
Figures
Fig. 1.
Habitat
Riverine and lowland rain-forest; from near sea-level to 1110 m.
Distribution
K7 P T3 T4 T6 U1 U2 U3 U4 Z widespread in tropical Africa from Senegal to the Sudan Republic and southwards to Zambia, Rhodesia and Mozambique

[ILDIS]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Zambezian forest, Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; forest., Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; forest, Zanzibar-Inhambane Regional transition zone; Transition woodland.
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Not climbing, Tree
Vernacular
Ordeal Tree, Red Water Tree, Red Water Tree Of Sierra Leone, Sasswood, Sassy Bark

[FZ]

Leguminosae, R.K. Brummitt, A.C. Chikuni, J.M. Lock and R.M. Polhill. Flora Zambesiaca 3:2. 2007

Morphology General Habit
Tree up to 30 m high; bark dark brown, very rough.
Morphology General Indumentum
Young branches and leaf rachides glabrous to shortly pubescent.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves: petiole and rachis together (6)11–35 cm long; pinnae 2–4(5) pairs; pinna rachis 8–20 cm long; leaflets (6)9–13(15) per pinna, (3)4.5–7(9) × (1.5)2.2–4.5(5.3) cm, obliquely ovate to elliptic, the base asymmetrical (except the terminal leaflet), the apex bluntly acuminate, i.e. drawn out into a short 'drip-tip', the surfaces glabrous except on the midrib beneath which is usually strongly pubescent; petiolules 2–4.5(5) mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes 2.5–8(11) cm long including a peduncle 0.7–1.5 cm long, the axis and peduncle densely puberulous to pubescent with short, crisped, appressed, rusty-brown hairs.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers 6–8(9) mm long from base of pedicel to anthers, cream or lemon-yellow to greenish-yellow; pedicel 0.6–1 mm long at anthesis.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 1–2(2.5) mm long, fused for almost half its length, rusty-brown pubescent like the inflorescence axis.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 2–3.5 mm long, greyish-brown pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamen filaments glabrous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods (7)10–14(17) × 3–4.5(5.3) cm excluding the stipe, oblong or somewhat curved, rounded at both ends, often somewhat woody, dehiscing along one margin only; stipe (1)1.5–2(2.5) cm long, inserted ± asymmetrically; seeds (4)6–9 × 10–12 × 4–7 mm, oblong-ellipsoid, on a funicle 7–10 mm long.

[FWTA]

Caesalpiniaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit
Large tree, with spreading crown, to 100 ft. high
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers small, very fragrant, crowded In spike-like racemes
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods opening without scattering the seeds
Ecology
In the drier parts of the forest regions and in fringing forest.

[ILDIS]
Use
Chemical products, Environmental, Medicine, Toxins, Wood

Native to:

Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Repu, Chad, Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Malaya, Sri Lanka

Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Oct 1, 2007 Mackinder, B. [520], Cameroon K000460102 No
Nov 1, 2005 Cheek, M. [11741], Cameroon K000338949 No
Nov 1, 2005 Cheek, M. [11741], Cameroon K000338948 No
Jan 1, 1960 Heudelot [s.n.] K000232199 Yes
Jan 1, 1960 Maitland, T.D. [1473], Cameroon K000092900 No
Fay, J.M. [7376], Central African Republic 63425.000 No
Brunt, M.A. [1018], Cameroon K000092899 No
Dowsett-Lemaire, F. [2511], Mozambique K000614126 No
Timberlake, J. [s.n.], Mozambique K000614494 No
Polhill, R.M. [5204], Cameroon Erythrophleum guineense K000092903 No

First published in Taxon 9: 194 (1960)

Accepted by

  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Boudet, G., Lebrun, J.P. & Demange, R. (1986). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali: 1-465. Etudes d'Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux.
  • Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). 61. Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2): 1-218. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Catarino, L., Martins, E.S., Diniz, M.A. & Pinto-Basto, M.F. (2006). Check-list da flora vascular do parque natural das Lagos de Cufada (Guiné-Bissau) Garcia de Orta, Série de Botânica 17: 97-141.
  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Govaerts, R. (2001). World Checklist of Seed Plants Database in ACCESS E-F: 1-50919.
  • Jongkind, C. (2014). Fauna & Flora of Liberia, flowering plant species list www.liberianfaunaflora.org.
  • Kalema, J. & Beentje, H. (2012). Conservation checklist of the trees of Uganda: 1-235. Kew Publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Kumar, S. & Sane, P.V. (2003). Legumes of South Asia. A Checklist: 1-536. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lejoy, J., Ndjele, M.-B. & Geerinck, D. (2010). Catalogue-flore des plantes vasculaires des districts de Kisangani et de la Tshopo (RD Congo) Taxonomania 30: 1-307.
  • Lock, J.M. & Ford, C.S. (2004). Legumes of Malesia a Check-List: 1-295. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lock, J.M. (1989). Legumes of Africa a check-list: 1-619. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Sita, P. & Moutsambote, J.-M. (2005). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Congo, ed. sept. 2005: 1-158. ORSTOM, Centre de Brazzaville.
  • Thiombiano, A., Schmidt, M., Dressler, S., Ouédraogo, A., Hahn, K. & Zizka, G. (2012). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Burkina Faso Boissiera 65: 1-391.

Literature

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Jongkind, C. (2014). Fauna & Flora of Liberia, flowering plant species list www.liberianfaunaflora.org.
  • Kumar, S. & Sane, P.V. (2003). Legumes of South Asia. A Checklist: 1-536. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lock, J.M. & Ford, C.S. (2004). Legumes of Malesia a Check-List: 1-295. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lock, J.M. (1989). Legumes of Africa a check-list: 1-619. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Sita, P. & Moutsambote, J.-M. (2005). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Congo, ed. sept. 2005: 1-158. ORSTOM, Centre de Brazzaville.
  • Thiombiano, A., Schmidt, M., Dressler, S., Ouédraogo, A., Hahn, K. & Zizka, G. (2012). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Burkina Faso Boissiera 65: 1-391.

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • Brenan in Taxon 9: 194 (1960).

International Legume Database and Information Service

  • Dale, I. R. & Greenway, P. J. (1961). Kenya Trees and Shrubs
  • Dalziel, J. M. (1937). The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa
  • Eggeling, W. J. & Dale, I. R. (1952). The Indigenous Trees of the Uganda Protectorate.
  • Keng, H. (1990). Concise Flora of Singapore. Singapore
  • Robyns, W. (Ed.) (1952). Flore du Congo Belge, Vol. 3. Mimosoideae, Caesalpinoideae
  • Rudd, V. E. (1991). Flora of Ceylon 7: 34-107. Caesalpinioideae
  • Terrell, E. E. (1977). Checklist of Names for 3, 000 Vas. Pl... Agric. Handbook No. 505
  • Verdcourt, B. & Trump, E. C. (1969). Common Poisonous Plants of East Africa
  • White, F. (1962). Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia.
  • White, F. (1983). The Vegetation of Africa

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    Flora Zambesiaca
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    Flora of Tropical East Africa
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    Flora of West Tropical Africa
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0