Baphia nitida
| Camwood | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Baphia |
| Species: | B. nitida |
| Binomial name | |
| Baphia nitida Lodd. | |
Baphia nitida (camwood, also barwood), also known as African sandalwood, is a shrubby, leguminous, hard-wooded tree from central west Africa. This 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.
Camwood is known as "osun" in Yoruba and is a key ingredient in Dudu Osun, a Nigerian brand of black soap.
Pterocarpin is a pterocarpan found in B. nitida.[1]
References
External links
- VIRBOGA - Baphia nitida
- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). [http://www.africanplants.senckenberg.de/root/index.php?submitForm=true&page_id=77&searchTextMenue=Baphia+nitida&filterRegionIDs[]=6&filterRegionIDs[]=1&filterRegionIDs[]=2&filterRegionIDs[]=3&filterRegionIDs[]=5 "Baphia nitida"]. African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.