Pterocarpus erinaceus

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Pterocarpus erinaceus
Pterocarpus erinaceus MS 4178.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Pterocarpus
Species:
P. erinaceus
Binomial name
Pterocarpus erinaceus

Pterocarpus erinaceus is an endangered [1] tree species native to the Sahelian region of West Africa. It is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. [2] [3] It is used for fuel wood, for medicinal purposes, as a woodworking material, and is useful as a nitrogen-fixing plant to improve nutrient-depleted farming land. It has several common names, including kosso, [1] barwood, [4] African kino tree, muninga, and vène; mukwa is used for this species as well as other Pterocarpus . Groves of the tree can be found on the savannahs of West Africa, but it is becoming increasingly rare and is sometimes cultivated. The tree also grows in forests of Comoé National Park in Côte d'Ivoire, a region geographically close to the Sahel but with a higher moisture regime due to its location between two large rivers. Also, the tree grows in abundance in Kurmi Local Govt. of Taraba State in Nigeria. The tree grows to about 11 meters in height on average, and bears dark, scaly bark and yellow flowers. The fruits are winged pods. P. erinaceus grows well on sunny, hot African plains with long dry seasons and frequent fires.

The wood, which varies from yellowish to rosy reds and rich browns, is valued for woodworking, and makes good charcoal and fuel wood. The tree exudes a red sap called kino , which is used as a dye in tanning and cloth-making. As a legume, the tree harbors rhizobia that return nitrogen to the soil, making it more fertile. Such plants are desirable on farmland. In addition, the foliage is a nutritious fodder for farm animals. Mali has an active market for P. erinaceus foliage, which is in high demand by sheep farmers for fodder. The tree has several medicinal uses, including reduction of fever and cough suppression. [5]

Pterocarpus erinaceus is one of the traditional djembe woods. It is also the only wood used to make the keys and part of the frame of the balafon and is the most common wood used to make the neck of the kora.

Pterocarpus erinaceus was brought to Europe in the 19th century by the Scottish explorer Mungo Park. Currently, it is a threatened due to overexploitation, environmental degradation, and climatic changes. However, the tree is somewhat prolific and easy to cultivate, so reforestation efforts have shown some success.

Other names for the tree include bani in Fulfulde, tolo in Djerma, wén in Wolof and ban in Serer. [6]

Related Research Articles

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Pterocarpus is a pantropical tree genus in the Fabaceae family. It belongs to the subfamily Faboideae, and was recently assigned to the informal monophyletic Pterocarpus clade within the Dalbergieae. Most species of Pterocarpus yield valuable timber traded as padauk, usually pronounced or ; other common names are mukwa or narra.

<i>Brachystegia spiciformis</i> Species of legume

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Bloodwood is a common name for several unrelated trees, including:

<i>Pterocarpus angolensis</i> Species of legume

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<i>Acacia salicina</i> Species of plant

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<i>Acacia confusa</i> Species of plant

Acacia confusa is a perennial tree native to South-East Asia. Some common names for it are ayangile, small Philippine acacia, Formosa acacia, Philippine Wattle, and Formosan koa. It grows to a height of 15 m. The tree has become very common in many tropical Pacific areas, including Hawaii, where the species is considered invasive.

<i>Pterocarpus santalinus</i> Species of legume

Pterocarpus santalinus, with the common names red sanders, red saunders, Yerra Chandanam, Chenchandanam, red sandalwood, Rakta Chandana, and rakto chandon, is a species of Pterocarpus endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats mountain range of South India. This tree is valued for the rich red colour of its wood, and in recent years there has been a marked uptick in the use of red sandalwood as a component of incense, especially in the west. The tree is not to be confused with the aromatic Santalum sandalwood trees that grow natively in Southern India.

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<i>Aniba rosaeodora</i> Species of tree

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kino (botany)</span>

Kino is a botanical gum produced by various trees and other plants, particularly bloodwood species of eucalypts and Pterocarpus, in reaction to mechanical damage, and which can be tapped by incisions made in the trunk or stalk. Many Eucalyptus, Angophora and Corymbia species are commonly referred to as 'bloodwoods', as the kino usually oozes out a very dark red colour. Kino flow in angiosperms contrasts with resin flow in conifers. The word kino is of Indian origin. In Australia, "red gum" is a term for kino from bloodwood trees and red acaroid resin from Xanthorrhoea spp.

<i>Encephalartos lanatus</i> Species of plant

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References

  1. 1 2 3 IUCN Red List, 2017, doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T62027797A62027800.en , retrieved 4 March 2021
  2. "Appendices", CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora , retrieved 15 December 2019
  3. Consideration of Proposals for Amendment of Appendices I and II (PDF), retrieved 15 December 2019
  4. NRCS. "Pterocarpus erinaceus". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  5. Pterocarpus erinaceus: An important legume tree in African savannas Archived 2009-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "FAO Species Profile". Archived from the original on 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2006-10-21.