Erythrophleum suaveolens

Erythrophleum suaveolens, also known as the ordeal tree, is a species of plant that can be found in Mozambique[1] and Zimbabwe. The species are 20 metres (66 ft) in height, and have a rough and blackish bark. The plants leaves have 2–3 pairs of pinnae, which carry 7–13 leaflets. The leaflets are 5 by 2.5 centimetres (1.97 in × 0.98 in), are green coloured and ovate. The flowers have fluffy spikes, and are creamy-yellow coloured. Fruits are hard, the pod of which is flat.[2]

Erythrophleum suaveolens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Rosids
Order:
Fabales
Family:
Fabaceae
Genus:
Erythrophleum
Species:
E. suaveolens
Binomial name
Erythrophleum suaveolens
Synonyms

Fillaea suaveolens Guill. & Perr.

The bark of the tree has been used in Liberia to make a toxic concoction used for a form of trial by ordeal called "sassywood".[3] This use has given it the common name of the "Ordeal Tree".[4]

References
  1. "Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Erythrophleum suaveolens". www.mozambiqueflora.com. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  2. "Flora of Zimbabwe: Species information: Erythrophleum suaveolens". www.zimbabweflora.co.zw. Retrieved 2017-08-04.
  3. Leeson, P. T.; Coyne, C. J. (2012). "Sassywood" (PDF). Journal of Comparative Economics. 40 (4): 608. doi:10.1016/j.jce.2012.02.002.
  4. "Erythrophleum suaveolens". Urban Forest. Retrieved 27 December 2015.


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