Afzelia xylocarpa

Afzelia xylocarpa
Makha seeds (Afzelia xylocarpa), yellow arils removed
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Afzelia
Species:
A. xylocarpa
Binomial name
Afzelia xylocarpa
(Kurz) Craib

Afzelia xylocarpa is a tree from Southeast Asia. It grows in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma in deciduous forests. It can reach 30 metres tall with a trunk up to 2 metres in diameter in a mature specimen.

Uses

The seeds are harvested for medicinal purposes. The seed pulp can be used to make cigarettes, and the bark and seed are used for herbal medicine. The highly figured lumber is often sold as Afzelia Xylay. The wood is used for ornamental woodturning, pens, knife handles, carvings, and musical instruments.

In Cambodia, A. xylocarpa (locally known as Beng) are planted as shading trees due to its wide-ranging branches. At roadsides and waterways the tree provides a good windbarrier and protection from water-driven soil erosion.[2]

Names

The tree has different local names:

  • Khmer: បេង [beːŋ]
  • Laotian: ຄ່າ [kʰāː]
  • Mandarin Chinese: 缅茄 (pinyin: miǎnqié)
  • Thai: มะค่า, RTGSmakha, pronounced [mā.kʰâː]
  • Vietnamese: Gõ đỏ.

References

  1. ^ Nghia, N.H. (1998). "Afzelia xylocarpa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T32811A9731140. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T32811A9731140.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "types of trees we plant in Cambodia". Archived from the original on 2016-11-18. Retrieved 2016-11-17.