Trichilia Emetica

Scientific Name: Trichilia Emetica

Common Name: Cape Mahogany

Family: Meliacae

Names in other languages: Muriri, Mkongoni, Munyama

General Information

A large evergreen tree with overhanging foliage, growing up to 30 meters in height, found in riverine areas and in places with a high water concentration, found throughout all of East Africa from sea level to 1,835 meters.

Features of Trichilia Emetica that make it identifiable:

The Bark is red brown and fairly smooth

The Leaves are compound and large, with 3 to 5 pairs of leaflets, dark green on top and pale green beneath

The flowers are small and greenish white,trumpet shaped

The fruit are green, brown capsules, in the branches and then burst open when ripe

Uses

The wood is light and and used for indoor furniture poles and posts

The wood is used as fuel and charcoal, oil from the seeds is used as soap