A genus of African and Asian trees known for producing hard, durable timber used in construction and furniture making.
Named after Adam Afzelius, an 18th-century Swedish naturalist and botanist who collected plants in Africa. The genus was named in his honor using the Latinized form of his surname.
Afzelia wood is so hard it was traditionally used to make tool handles and ship components—Linnaeus and his students honored African explorers by naming entire tree species after them, mixing navigation and botany.
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