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Sacoglottis gabonensis
Sacoglottis gabonensis, commonly known as bitterbark tree or cherry mahogany is a medium to large sized evergreen tree within the Humiriaceae family. It is the only species within the genus that is native to tropical Africa. It occurs in rainforests or on sandy soils of Senegal eastwards to Angola in central Africa. It is traded locally and known in some countries under the name Ozouga.
The chemical compound Bergenin has been isolated from the stem bark of Sacoglottis gabonensis.
Stem bark extracts is used as a palm wine additive for the preservation and potency of the alcoholic drink, while fruits of the species are favored by the African bush elephants at the Lope National Park. Some monkeys are also adapted to eat their hard seeds. Its wood is used in local marine related works such as canoe and boat making and bridge construction. It is also a good source of firewood.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Sacoglottis gabonensis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
