Bersama abyssinica

Bersama abyssinica is a species of medium-sized evergreen tree in the family Francoaceae. The leaves are pinnately divided with a strongly winged rachis (hence the common name winged bersama).^[2] The inflorescence is a spike.

Winged bersama
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Geraniales
Family:	Francoaceae
Genus:	Bersama
Species:	B. abyssinica
Binomial name
Bersama abyssinica Fresen.
Countries of occurrence
Synonyms
Bersama schreberifolia Bersama schweinfurthii Bersama serrata Bersama volkensii

This species is distributed across sub-Saharan Africa and includes two subspecies:^[3]

• B. abyssinica Fresen. subsp. abyssinica Fresen.
• B. abyssinica Fresen. subsp. rosea (Hoyle) Mikkelsen^[4]

The subspecies rosea is endemic to Tanzania, where it is considered vulnerable.^[5]

Bersama abyssinica produces a hard, heavy wood that is used in the construction of houses in West Africa.^[6]