About Burkea africana Hook.
Size
Burkea africana Hook. is a tree that reaches heights between 4 and 20 meters.
Leaf Characteristics
Its leaves are bipinnately compound, and may be either silvery pubescent or glabrescent.
Flower Traits
The species produces creamy white, fragrant flowers arranged in pendulous racemes that grow up to 300 mm in length.
Bark Composition
The bark of Burkea africana is toxic, and contains high levels of alkaloids and tannins.
Bark Uses
It is used for tanning leather, and pulverized bark from the tree is thrown into water to paralyze fish.
Distribution Range
This tree is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal east to Sudan and south to South Africa.
Recorded Countries
It has been recorded in Chad, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Zaire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and the Transvaal region of South Africa.
Habitat
It typically grows in deciduous woodland and savanna habitats at elevations between 270 and 1300 meters, and is generally not found in humid tropical rain forests.
Herbivory
In its ecosystem, the foliage of Burkea africana is browsed by the larvae of two Saturniidae moth species: Rohaniella pygmaea and Imbrasia forda.
Timber Properties
Heartwood harvested from Burkea africana produces durable, insect-resistant timber. The timber has a moderately fine, wavy grain and ranges in color from dark brown to reddish brown.
Timber Uses
It is commonly used for parquet flooring, fine cabinetry, and furniture work.
