Tree Names
The list below gives the names of trees which occur in place names in the online database.
Botanical names have been linked to an external site for further detail, e.g. Useful Tropical Plants; West African Plants - A Photo Guide (follow African Plant Database link below photos for description). Local names have been taken from F.R.Irvine, "Woody Plants of Ghana", OUP, 1961, W.Hawthorne & N.Gyakari, "Photoguide for the Forest Trees of Ghana", Oxford Forestry Institute, 2006, and R.Blench, "Dagomba Plant Names", 2006.
Notes:
Linked pages may show a different name to that listed, which may be a synonym or reclassification.
Local languages are identified as: Ab (Abron/Brong), Ak (Akan), Da (Dagaare), Db (Dagbani), Ew (Ewe), Ga (Ga), Ha (Hausa), Nz (Nzema)
The local names are by no means unique, even within the given language. Only names found in toponyms are given.
Where possible, example toponyms have been chosen which have source evidence.
Botanical Name
Hymenostegia afzelii
English Name
Afzelia
Albizia
Bark Cloth
Aprokuma
Camwood
Berlinia
Akee Apple
Akee Apple
Red-Flowered Silk Cotton
Fan Palm
Shea
Kapok, Silk Cotton
Iroko
White Star Apple Tree
Lime
Orange
Bitter Cola
Drum Tree
Velvet Tamarind
Oil Palm
Ordeal tree
Fig
Forest Sandpaper Fig
Doka
Kumbi
Mango
God's Heart
African Peach, Country Fig
West African Locust Bean
Oil Bean, Atta Bean
Pheasant Berry
Pterygota
African Flame Tree
Ashanti Plum, (Red) Hog Plum
Adam's Apple
Afram
Cherry Mahogany
Local Name
Ɔpapao -Ak, Ga; Kakala -Da
Ɔkoro -Ak
Apɔtorɔ -Ak
Kyenkyen, Ɔfo -Ak
Apurukuma -Ak
Ɔdwen(e) -Ak
Papa -Ak
Ankye -Ak
Akye -Ak
Okum -Ak
Ago -Ew
Ɔpepea -Ak
Tama -Db
Onyaa, Onyina -Ak
Afwerewa -Ak
Esa -Ak
Odum -Ak,Ew,Ga
Adɔsoa -Ak
Aŋkaa -Ak
Akutu -Ak,Ga
Bese -Ak; Bisi -Ew
Kyenedua -Ak
Ahwirewa -Ak
Ɔsena -Ak
Abɛ -Ak
Kakan -Ak
Ɔdom -Ak
Doma -Ak
Onyankyerɛn -Ak
Takorowa -Ak
kpal(i)soɣu -Db
Purukuma -Ak
Mango -Ak
(A)dubiya -Ak
Katakyi(dua) -Ak
Anyankoma -Ak
Kusia -Ak
Apurokuma -Ak
Dawadawa -Ha, Soronu -Ab
Ataa -Ak
Ɔpepea -Ak
Ɔdanwoma -Ak
Kyerɛ -Ak
Osisiriw -Ak
Atoaa, Ataawa -Ak; Tuane -Nz
Pepea -Ak
Ɔfram -Ak
Ɔpapea, Abaku -Ak
Toponym