Skip to content

African copaiba balsamtree

Daniellia oliveri

Family: Fabaceae Genus: Daniellia Species: oliveri

Synonyms: Paradaniellia oliveri

African copaiba balsamtree (en)
Daniellia oliveri — flower
Daniellia oliveri — flower

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:
anti-inflammatoryantimicrobialanalgesic

Botanical Description

Daniellia oliveri, known as the African copaiba balsam tree, is a medium to large deciduous tree in the Fabaceae family (subfamily Detarioideae), reaching 15 to 25 metres in height with a broad, spreading crown. The bark is greyish, smooth on younger trees and becoming scaly with age, and exudes a fragrant, sticky oleoresin when wounded. Leaves are alternate, paripinnate, 20 to 30 centimetres long, with 6 to 11 pairs of opposite, oblong-elliptic leaflets that are leathery, glabrous, and 5 to 12 centimetres long. Young foliage emerges pinkish-red, giving flushing crowns a striking appearance. Flowers are small, whitish, fragrant, and crowded in dense terminal or axillary panicles produced before or with the new leaves. Fruits are flat, oblong, woody pods 5 to 8 centimetres long, releasing a single seed. The species occurs in savanna woodland across tropical West and Central Africa.

Native Region: Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Repu, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zaïre

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID
36523

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.