Natal mahogany (Trichilia emetica)
Description
Trichilia emetica is a tree in the family Meliaceae. It is commonly known as the Natal mahogany. These trees are found in riverine vegetation and open woodland from KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa to Tropical Africa. The Natal-mahogany is an evergreen tree, with handsome glossy dark green leaves and a wide spreading crown. Its sweet-scented flowers will attract bees and birds to your garden. Trichilia is a flowering plant genus in the family Meliaceae. These plants are particularly diverse in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America. Several species are used in folk medicine and shamanism - e.g. T. rubescens against malaria, T. tocacheana as a hallucinogen, and T. catigua in the aphrodisiac and stimulant catuaba. T. emetica wood, also known as Natal mahogany or Cape mahogany is the traditional material of choice for Mozambique's famous psikhelekedana miniature artists. Trichilia dregeana, or forest mahogany also yields timber and is also used in carvings, traditional African musical instruments, household implements, furniture, bats and canoes.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Sapindales
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Family: Meliaceae
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Genus: Trichilia
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