Afzelia Quanzensis

Family: Fabaceae, Leguminosae – Caesalpiniaceae
ENG: Pod Mahogany
GIR: KWS – Mbambakofi
GIR: Mwamba

Deciduous tree up to 35M high, pods to 170mm long.

This tree is very good for wildlife. The flowers are fragrant attracting insects and insect-eating birds. The leaves and fallen flowers are eaten by antelope and livestock. Monkeys and hornbills feed on the fresh arils from the fruit pod, dropping the seeds on the ground where they either germinate or are eaten by rodents.

The leaves are edible when cooked. The bark and roots are used in traditional medicine. Bark is also used for rope, and the seeds for necklaces. Afzelia produces an insect resistant hardwood.

Propagated from seed.
Recorded as larval foodplant to: