Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill. & Perr.) Brenan

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

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

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

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.

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.