Afzelia xylocarpa

Afzelia xylocarpa is a large tropical tree in the pea family. Common names include Makha tree and Cambodia Beng tree. It grows wild in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It lives in dense forest and mixed deciduous woodland. It also grows where evergreen forest meets drier, open forest. Logging and habitat loss have made large trees scarce. Useful Tropical Plants reports an Endangered listing from 2011.

The tree sheds its leaves and forms a broad, rounded crown. Garden accounts give a height of about 66 feet [20 metres]. Broader descriptions give 49–82 feet [15–25 metres] as the usual range. Rare trees reach 131 feet [40 metres]. Its spread can reach about 39 feet [12 metres]. The trunk often bends or forks and may form buttresses. Trunks can measure 3–5 feet [0.9–1.5 metres] across. The fruit forms seedpods, and each seed has a large aril.

This tree needs warmth and does poorly below 50°F [10°C]. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 10–12 and notes frost sensitivity. Young trees prefer some shade, but older trees need sun. It prefers moist soil that drains well, with a neutral pH. It can grow in sand, loam, or clay. Deep loam suits it well, as do well-drained flats and slopes. Its preferred climate has a dry season lasting five to six months. Growth is moderate, and cut trees can regrow from stumps.

People grow it for timber, food, and local medicinal uses. Its heavy, hard wood lasts well and has red-brown tones. Woodworkers use it for carvings, handles, pens, and musical instruments. The seeds also serve as carving material. Seed pulp provides an adhesive, while bark supplies tannins. In agroforestry, nitrogen fixation and fallen leaves help improve soil. Its broad crown gives it a substantial presence in large gardens.

People eat the fatty cotyledons of young seeds. Plants For A Future also lists leaves and seed oil as edible. Local medicine uses the tree for toothache and eye complaints. These records describe traditional uses, not proof of treatment benefits. Both plant references report no known hazards. That does not establish safety for every use or animal. Raising it from seed requires care because the seedcoat is hard. Growers remove the aril and nick the coat without harming the young root. They then soak the seeds before sowing.