Ekebergia is a small genus of flowering plants in the mahogany family, Meliaceae, placed in the order Sapindales. Its members are dioecious trees and shrubs — individual plants bear either male or female flowers — with odd-pinnate (once-compound, ending in a single terminal leaflet) leaves. The genus is native to tropical and southern Africa.
The genus name commemorates Carl Gustaf Ekeberg (1716–1784), a Swedish physician, chemist and explorer, and was published by Anders Sparrman in 1779 in the Kongliga Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar. GBIF's backbone taxonomy records Ekebergia Sparrm. as the accepted genus within Meliaceae, with a handful of accepted species.
Best-known members include Ekebergia capensis (Cape ash), a widespread African tree valued for its wood, and Ekebergia pterophylla, a smaller relative found in similar African habitats. As with other Meliaceae, species in this genus are typically forest or woodland trees rather than garden ornamentals in most regions.
Etymology
The genus name Ekebergia honours Carl Gustaf Ekeberg (1716–1784), a Swedish physician, chemist and explorer. It was published by Sparrman in 1779 in Kongliga Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar, p. 282.
Distribution
Native to tropical and southern Africa.
Taxonomy Notes
Placed in family Meliaceae, order Sapindales. GBIF records the accepted genus as Ekebergia Sparrm., with 5 accepted descendant taxa in its backbone taxonomy.
