Erythrophleum suaveolens

Erythrophleum suaveolens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Erythrophleum
Species:
E. suaveolens
Binomial name
Erythrophleum suaveolens
Synonyms
List
    • Erythrophleum guineense G.Don
    • Erythrophleum judiciale Proctor
    • Erythrophleum ordale Bolle
    • Fillaea suaveolens Guill. & Perr.
    • Mavia judicia Walp.
    • Mavia judicialis G.Bertol.

Erythrophleum suaveolens, also known as the ordeal tree, is a species of flowering plant that can be found across most of tropical Africa. The species are 20 metres (66 ft) in height, and have a rough and blackish bark. The plants leaves have 2–3 pairs of pinnae, which carry 7–13 leaflets. The leaflets are 5 by 2.5 centimetres (1.97 in × 0.98 in), are green coloured and ovate. The flowers have fluffy spikes, and are creamy-yellow coloured. Fruits are hard, the pod of which is flat.

The bark of the tree has been used in Liberia to make a toxic concoction used for a form of trial by ordeal called "sassywood". This use has given it the common name of the "Ordeal Tree".