Afzelia quanzensis, commonly known as Pod Mahogany, is an incredibly striking, medium-sized, deciduous tree, with dazzling green leaves that turn to an eye-catching yellowish colour in autumn. Its erect crown also complements its magnificence, and the fairly sagging branches bear a resemblance to a eucalyptus from a distance. The pod mahogany is an average to large, deep-rooted tree that may grow up to 35 m in height, with a large spreading crown. Its straight trunk may be up to 1 m in diameter and has a grey-green or creamy grey, smooth bark that is beautifully patterned with raised rings that flake off irregularly, leaving circular patches. The roots provide medicine against gonorrhoea, chest pains, kidney problems, bilharzia, eye problems and snakebite. They can be chewed as an aphrodisiac. A mixture of pounded bark and python fat is applied on eczematous spots of the skin, and a small piece of bark is applied to an aching tooth. An infusion made from roots and bark is believed to bring huntsmen luck if they wash with it. This infusion needs to be steeped overnight to be effective. Powered bark mixed with one’s own body oil is believed to ward off attacks and bad luck.