Thulin, M. (1993) Fabaceae, Flora of Somalia 1: 1-465
Plants trees. Leaves, odd-pinnate; leaflets opposite or subopposite, with twisted petiolules, usually with a small dot-like gland on the lower surfacesin the angle between the margins and the midrib or on the margins themselves. Inflorescences racemes or panicles; young buds enclosed by 2 overlapping caduous bracteoles. Hypanthia more or less elongate; sepals 4, imbricate, unequal; petals 1, large, clawed, the others rudimentary or absent; stamens normally 7 fertile and 2 staminodal. Pods dehiscing into 2 thickly woody valves; seeds large, hard, with a basal aril.
Afzelia has about 13 species, 7 being native to tropical Africa, 6 in southeast Asia.