Trichilia

Trichilia
Trichilia emetica
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Meliaceae
Subfamily: Melioideae
Genus: Trichilia
P.Browne
Species

Many, see text

Trichilia is a flowering plant genus in the mahogany family. 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.

Taxonomy

The genus Trichilia was given its scientific name in 1756 by Patrick Browne. It is classified as part of Meliaceae, a family that is native to the Americas from Argentina to Mexico, Africa mainly south of the Sahara, and to the Arabian peninsula. The genus has 19 synonyms.[1]

Table of Synonyms
Name Year
Acanthotrichilia (Urb.) O.F.Cook & G.N.Collins 1903
Acrilia Griseb. 1859
Barbilus P.Browne 1756
Barbylus Juss. 1789
Barola Adans. 1763 (nom. illeg.)
Burseranthe Rizzini 1974
Elcaja Forssk. 1775
Geniostephanus Fenzl 1844
Heynichia Kunth 1844
Mafureira Bertol. 1850
Moschoxylum A.Juss. 1830
Odontandra Willd. ex Schult. 1819
Odontosiphon M.Roem. 1846
Pholacilia Griseb. 1859
Portesia Cav. 1789
Rochetia Delile 1846
Symphytosiphon Harms 1896
Torpesia M.Roem. 1846
Ailantopsis Gagnep. 1944

According to Plants of the World Online there are 109 accepted species:[1]

References

  • Data related to Trichilia at Wikispecies
  • Media related to Trichilia at Wikimedia Commons