home   about   search

biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Trichilia emetica (Natal mahogany)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid II > Order: Sapindales > Family: Meliaceae > Genus: Trichilia

Trichilia emetica (Natal mahogany)
Trichilia emetica (Natal mahogany) Trichilia emetica (Natal mahogany)

Trichilia emetica, Chitengo Camp, Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. [photos Bart Wursten ©, Flora of Mozambique]

Trichilia emetica (Natal mahogany) Trichilia emetica (Natal mahogany)

Trichilia emetica, Crocodile Farm, Kariba, Zimbabwe. [photos Bart Wursten ©, Flora of Zimbabwe]

Uses

  • Oil is extracted from the seeds by pounding them with a mortar and then boiling them. This oil is used as a skin moisturiser and for manufacturing soap. It is also taken orally to treat rheumatism and used on cuts and at sites of bone fractures to promote healing.
  • Arils are separated from the seeds and cooked with a vegetable such as sweet potato or squash, and eaten.

Links