Baphia_nitida

Not to be confused with Osyris lanceolata, also known as African sandalwood.

Baphia nitida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Baphia
Species:
B. nitida
Binomial name
Baphia nitida
Lodd.
The distribution of Baphia nitida.
Synonyms[1]
  • Baphia angolensis sensu Lester-Garland
  • Baphia barombiensis Taub.
  • Baphia haematoxylon (Schum. & Thonn.) Hooker f.
  • Carpolobia versicolor G. Don
  • Delaria pyrifolia Desv.
  • Podalyria haematoxylon Schum. & Thonn.

Baphia nitida, also known as camwood, barwood, and African sandalwood (although not a true sandalwood), is a shrubby, leguminous, hard-wooded tree from central west Africa. It is a small understorey, evergreen tree, often planted in villages, and known as osun in Yoruba.

The wood is of a very fine colour, and is used in woodturning for making knife handles and similar articles. The tree's bark and heartwood are commonly used to make a brilliant but non-permanent red dye, which is soluble in alkali.

Pterocarpin is a pterocarpan found in B. nitida.[2]

Osun (camwood) extract is also used in some soaps and skin treatments, primarily among the Yoruba people of West Africa. The extract of the Camwood can be formed into a soft soap like material that is thought to promote healthy skin.

References

  1. ^ Soladoye MO (1985). "A revision of Baphia (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae)". Kew Bulletin. 40 (2): 291–386. doi:10.2307/4108263. JSTOR 4108263.
  2. ^ "Pterocarpin at knapsack_jsp". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2013-02-05.

External links