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Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss.
| Family Name: | Meliaceae |
| Common Name: | Senegal Mahogany, African Mahogany, Senegal Khaya, Bisselon, 非洲楝, 赛内加尔桃花心木, 非洲栋 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
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| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Maximum Height | 30 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical West Africa to Uganda |
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Description and Ethnobotany
| Foliage | The leaf arrangement is alternate; the leaves themselves are odd- or even-pinnate compound, around 50 - 70cm long, with 3 - 7 pairs of leaflets on each leaf. The leaflets are oblong to elliptical, dark green and glossy on the upper side, and light green on the underside. Leaflets are 8 - 17cm long, - 7cm wide. |
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| Flowers | The flowers are very small (less than 1cm wide), borne in clusters, and are pale white in colour. Each flower has 5 small petals. This tree flowers irregularly in Singapore, possibly because flowering is triggered by the onset of the rainy season in its native habitat, but there is no distinct rainy season in Singapore. Fruit set therefore also is rather sporadic. Flowers are pollinated by insects. |
| Fruit | Fruits are woody capsules which split open with 3 or 4 valves. Each fruit contains numerous seeds with brown wings at two ends, horizontally arranged. The fruit colour changes from grey to black when it ripens and begins to bear seeds once the tree reaches 20 to 25 years old. Seeds are dispersed by wind and may travel up to 100m from the parent tree. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | A very large and tall tree, semi-deciduous. The crown is large, rounded, bushy and dark green. The trunk is robust, straight and cylindrical, with buttresses. The bark is dark grey with small, thin flakes or scales. The colour of the scales varies from red, dark pink to bright red and exudes a red sap. Its natural habitat is riverine forests and savannah woodlands in tropical Africa. It can also be found at higher elevations in moister areas. Propagation: Propagated from seeds and root suckers. Seeds should be mechanically scarified before sowing. Seedlings can survive if light to moderate shade conditions are given.This tree is a very hardy and fast growing tree. It survives will in moist soil conditions, and has a high transplanting survival rate. It is also highly resistant to flooding, fairly shade tolerant, and adaptable to a wide variety of soil conditions. Ethnobotanical Uses (Food): Oil extracted from the seeds can be used for cooking in West Africa. Ethnobotanical Uses (Medicinal): In West Africa, the very bitter bark is often used as a fever remedy. The bark can be used as a vermifuge or taenicide to treat syphilis. Extracts of the bark hare also used to treat scorpion bites, allergies, gum infections, to disinfect bleeding wounds, and as a laxative. Ethnobotanical Uses (Other):The wood is highly appreciated for its attractive grain and its rich reddish mahogany brown colour. It is used for furniture and cabinetry, flooring, construction and boat building. The bark contains components of tannin and is sometimes used for tanning leather. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Cultural / Religious: Heritage Trees : There is currently one individual of Khaya senegalensis listed as a Heritage Tree in Singapore. It can be found at Singapore Botanic Gardens. To find out more about these trees, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Roadside Tree / Palm |
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Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1686 |
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| Species ID | 2979 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
