Camwood | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae
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(unranked): | Angiosperms
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(unranked): | Eudicots
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(unranked): | Rosids
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Order: | Fabales
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Family: | Fabaceae
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Genus: | Baphia
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Species: | B. nitida
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Binomial name | |
Baphia nitida Lodd.
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The distribution of Baphia nitida. | |
Synonyms | |
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Baphia nitida (camwood, also barwood), also known as African sandalwood, is a shrubby, leguminous, hard-wooded tree from central west Africa. This wood is of a very fine colour, and is used in woodturning for making knife handles and similar articles.
The tree's bark and heartwood are commonly used to make a brilliant but non-permanent red dye, which is soluble in alkali.
Camwood is known as "osun" in Yoruba.
Pterocarpin is a pterocarpan found in B. nitida.
Osun (camwood) extract is also used in some soaps and skin treatments, although there aren't published studies about its efficacy or safety.