Canarium schweinfurthii
African canarium | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Sapindales |
Family: | Burseraceae |
Genus: | Canarium |
Species: | C. schweinfurthii |
Binomial name | |
Canarium schweinfurthii Engl.[1] | |
Canarium schweinfurthii, commonly known as African elemi or canarium, is a species of large tree native to tropical Africa.[2] Names in many African languages are variations of mupafu.[3]
Description
Because of similarities in their fruit and leaves, African elemi may be confused with Dacryodes edulis.[4]
Distribution and habitat
African elemi is found from the coast of Angola to Uganda.[4]
Uses
The African elemi tree is one of several sources of the economically useful oleoresin known elemi. In West Africa this resin is traditionally burned for fumigating dwellings and mixed with oil for body paint.[5] African elemi bears edible fruit with a thick, dense, hard shell.[4]
Notes
References
- ICRAF. "Canarium schweinfurthii". Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- H., J. H. (1906-01-01). "The Eben Tree of Old Calabar. (Pachylobus edulis, G. Don.)". Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information (Royal Gardens, Kew). 1906 (5): 172–173. doi:10.2307/4111299. ISSN 0366-4457. JSTOR 4111299.
- Mantell, C. L. (1950-07-01). "The Natural Hard Resins: Their Botany, Sources and Utilization". Economic Botany. 4 (3): 203–242. doi:10.2307/4251986. ISSN 0013-0001. JSTOR 4251986.
External links
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/14/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.