Pachyelasma
Genus of legumes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pachyelasma is a genus of flowering plants in the legume subfamily Caesalpinioideae.[3] It contains only one species, Pachyelasma tessmannii, which is native to central Africa.[1]
| Pachyelasma | |
|---|---|
| |
| A specimen of P. tessmannii from Yangambi, Democratic Republic of the Congo that is locally known as l'arbre de l'authenticité where tribal elders held court | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Pachyelasma Harms 1913 |
| Species: | P. tessmannii |
| Binomial name | |
| Pachyelasma tessmannii (Harms) Harms 1913 | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Stachyothyrsus tessmannii Harms 1910[2] | |
Description
Pachyelasma tessmannii is an evergreen tree growing up to 60 m (200 ft) tall with a straight, cylindrical trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter. The flowers are red and the fruits are four-angled black pods that may be up to 37 cm (15 in) in length.[1][4]
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Distribution and habitat
Pachyelasma tessmannii can be found in the wet tropical regions of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria.[1]
Uses
The fruit is sometimes used by fishermen in remote areas of Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo for poison fishing.[5] Some cocoa farmers in Cameroon mix the bark with other plant materials and extracts to create a natural pesticide.[6]
