Iroko | |
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Milicia excelsa, Uganda | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Rosales |
Family: | Moraceae |
Tribe: | Moreae |
Genus: | Milicia Sim |
Species | |
Iroko, a Yoruba name(also known as ọ́jị̀ in Igbo language, uloho in the Urhobo language of Southern Nigeria, and as odum in the Kwa languages of Ghana[1]) is a large hardwood tree from the west coast of tropical Africa that can live up to 500 years.[2] This is the common name for the genus Milicia, in which there are two recognized species, which are closely related: Milicia excelsa and Milicia regia.[3]
The genus name of Milicia is in honour of Milici (19th and 20th centuries), an administrator in Portuguese East Africa (in modern-day Mozambique) who supported the work of the author of the genus, Thomas Robertson Sim.[4] It was first described and published in Forest Fl. Port. E. Afr. on page 97 in 1909.[5]
The tree is known to the Yoruba as ìrókò, logo or loko and is believed to have healing properties.[6] Iroko is known to the Igbo people as ọjị wood.[7] It is one of the woods sometimes referred to as African teak,[8] although it is unrelated to the teak family. The wood colour is initially yellow but darkens to a richer copper brown over time.
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