Trichilia is a genus of flowering plants in the mahogany family. These species are particularly diverse in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America.
Several species are used in folk medicine and shamanism – e.g. T. rubescens against malaria, T. tocacheana as a hallucinogen, and T. catigua in the aphrodisiac and stimulant catuaba. T. emetica wood, also known as Natal mahogany or Cape mahogany, is the traditional material of choice for Mozambique's famous psikhelekedana miniature artists. Trichilia dregeana, or forest mahogany also yields timber and is also used in carvings, traditional African musical instruments, household implements, furniture, bats and canoes.
Taxonomy The genus Trichilia was given its scientific name in 1756 by Patrick Browne. It is classified as part of Meliaceae, a family that is native to the Americas from Argentina to Mexico, Africa mainly south of the Sahara, and to the Arabian Peninsula. The genus has 19 synonyms.
Table of Synonyms Name Year Acanthotrichilia 1903 Acrilia 1859 Barbilus 1756 Barbylus 1789 Barola 1763 (nom. illeg.) Burseranthe 1974 Elcaja 1775 Geniostephanus 1844 Heynichia 1844 Mafureira 1850 Moschoxylum 1830 Odontandra 1819 Odontosiphon 1846 Pholacilia 1859 Portesia 1789 Rochetia 1846 Symphytosiphon 1896 Torpesia 1846 Ailantopsis 1944
According to Plants of the World Online there are 109 accepted species:
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