African Teak

Milicia excelsa is a large deciduous tree of the mulberry family, distributed across tropical Central Africa and growing up to 50 metres, with a bare trunk, small buttress roots and an umbrella-shaped crown. Damaged bark oozes milky latex. It is one of two species whose timber is sold as African teak or iroko. The article says the tree has several medicinal uses: the powdered bark is used for coughs, heart problems and lassitude, and the latex to clear stomach and throat obstructions and as an anti-tumour agent. In West Africa it is considered sacred. It is often left standing when the surrounding bush is cleared, ritual sacrifices are made beneath it and gifts are given to it. Fertility and birth are linked with it, and its timber is made into ceremonial drums and coffins. Over-harvesting and habitat loss threaten it, and the article reports that most of the remaining iroko trees in Benin are kept on farms.