Afzelia bella

Botanical Description

Afzelia bella is a variable plant with two main forms. The variety bella can be a shrub or a small tree from 2.5 - 11 metres tall with a bole 5 - 10cm in diameter; whilst the variety gracilior is a larger tree with a spreading crown, usually up to 25 metres but occasionally reaching 35 metres tall with a cylindrical bole that can be unbranched for 6 - 7 metres and up to 100cm in diameter[ 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. ]. The tree produces a valuable timber and is commonly harvested from the wild, especially for export. The tree also supplies food and medicines for local use. A very ornamental plant, it is grown in villages and gardens, and to provide shade[ 332 Title The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Publication Author Burkil. H. M. Publisher Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew. Year 1985 - 2004 ISBN Description Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/ ].