Sacoglottis gabonensis | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malpighiales |
Family: | Humiriaceae |
Genus: | Sacoglottis |
Species: | S. gabonensis
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Binomial name | |
Sacoglottis gabonensis (Baill.) Urb.
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Synonyms [1] | |
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Sacoglottis gabonensis, commonly known as bitterbark tree or cherry mahogany is a medium to large sized evergreen tree within the Humiriaceae family. [2] It is the only species within the genus, Sacoglottis that is native to tropical Africa, another, guianensis Benth. being native to Amazonia. [1] It occurs in rainforests or on sandy soils of Senegal eastwards to Angola in central Africa. It is traded locally and known in some countries under the name Ozouga. [3]
A large species that can reach 40 metres (130 ft) tall and a diameter of 1.8 m (6 ft) at maturity, it has a scaly dark brown bark with pustulate lenticels and a red-brown slash, its trunk is crooked but occasionally straight while the base is irregular, with wide spreading buttressed roots or deeply fluted surface roots. [4] Leaves are simple, alternate and distichous in arrangement, with a coriaceous surface that is dull green in color; stipules up to 1 mm long, petiole is 6 to 10 mm (0.2 to 0.4 in) long; leaf-blade is narrowly ovate, elliptic or oblong in outline, 6 to 15 cm (2.4 to 5.9 in) long and 2.5 to 6 cm (1.0 to 2.4 in) wide. [4] Inflorescence is axillary cymes, bracts are 1 to 2 mm (0.0 to 0.1 in) long, pedicel is 0.5 to 1.5 mm (0.02 to 0.06 in) long. Fruit is an ellipsoid drupe, greenish to yellow when ripe, 1-5 seeded. [4]
The chemical compound, Bergenin has been isolated from the stem bark of Sacoglottis gabonensis. [5]
Stem bark extracts is used as a palm wine additive for the preservation and potency of the alcoholic drink, [5] while fruits of the species are favored by the African bush elephants at the Lope National Park.Some monkeys are also adapted to eat their hard seeds. [6] Its wood is used in local marine related works such as canoe and boat making and bridge construction, it is also a good source of firewood.
Sacoglottis gabonensis | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malpighiales |
Family: | Humiriaceae |
Genus: | Sacoglottis |
Species: | S. gabonensis
|
Binomial name | |
Sacoglottis gabonensis (Baill.) Urb.
| |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Sacoglottis gabonensis, commonly known as bitterbark tree or cherry mahogany is a medium to large sized evergreen tree within the Humiriaceae family. [2] It is the only species within the genus, Sacoglottis that is native to tropical Africa, another, guianensis Benth. being native to Amazonia. [1] It occurs in rainforests or on sandy soils of Senegal eastwards to Angola in central Africa. It is traded locally and known in some countries under the name Ozouga. [3]
A large species that can reach 40 metres (130 ft) tall and a diameter of 1.8 m (6 ft) at maturity, it has a scaly dark brown bark with pustulate lenticels and a red-brown slash, its trunk is crooked but occasionally straight while the base is irregular, with wide spreading buttressed roots or deeply fluted surface roots. [4] Leaves are simple, alternate and distichous in arrangement, with a coriaceous surface that is dull green in color; stipules up to 1 mm long, petiole is 6 to 10 mm (0.2 to 0.4 in) long; leaf-blade is narrowly ovate, elliptic or oblong in outline, 6 to 15 cm (2.4 to 5.9 in) long and 2.5 to 6 cm (1.0 to 2.4 in) wide. [4] Inflorescence is axillary cymes, bracts are 1 to 2 mm (0.0 to 0.1 in) long, pedicel is 0.5 to 1.5 mm (0.02 to 0.06 in) long. Fruit is an ellipsoid drupe, greenish to yellow when ripe, 1-5 seeded. [4]
The chemical compound, Bergenin has been isolated from the stem bark of Sacoglottis gabonensis. [5]
Stem bark extracts is used as a palm wine additive for the preservation and potency of the alcoholic drink, [5] while fruits of the species are favored by the African bush elephants at the Lope National Park.Some monkeys are also adapted to eat their hard seeds. [6] Its wood is used in local marine related works such as canoe and boat making and bridge construction, it is also a good source of firewood.