Taxon: Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Desv.) J. H. Kirkbr. & Wiersema

Summary

Genus:

Bobgunnia

Family:

Fabaceae (alt. Leguminosae)

Subfamily:

Faboideae

Tribe:

Swartzieae

Nomen number:

443643

Place of publication:

Brittonia 49:7. 1997

Verified:

03/02/2004 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

6 (0 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Basionym
Swartzia madagascariensis Desv.

Homotypic Synonym(s)
Tounatea madagascariensis (Desv.) Kuntze

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:1-23.
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	snake-bean	1	Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa. Note: as Swartzia madagascariensis
French	petit dim	2	Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa. Note: as Swartzia madagascariensis
Swedish	ormböna	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	Note	Reference
1	Native	Africa	East Tropical Africa	Tanzania		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	Northeast Tropical Africa	Chad		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Angola		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Mozambique		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Zambia		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	South Tropical Africa	Zimbabwe		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	Botswana		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	Southern Africa	Namibia		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Benin		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Côte D'Ivoire		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Gambia		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Ghana		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Guinea		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Guinea-Bissau		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Mali		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Niger		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Nigeria	n.	Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Senegal		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West Tropical Africa	Togo		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Cameroon		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Central African Republic		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.
1	Native	Africa	West-Central Tropical Africa	Democratic Republic of the Congo		Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.

Native
Africa

NORTHEAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Chad
EAST TROPICAL AFRICA: Tanzania
WEST-CENTRAL TROPICAL AFRICA: Central African Republic, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo
WEST TROPICAL AFRICA: Benin, Côte D'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria (n.), Senegal, Togo
SOUTH TROPICAL AFRICA: Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe
SOUTHERN AFRICA: Botswana, Namibia

Reference(s)

Kirkbride, J. H., Jr. & J. H. Wiersema. 1997. Bobgunnia, a new African genus of tribe Swartzieae (Fabaceae, Faboideae). Brittonia 49:7.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Fuels	charcoal	as Swartzia madagascariensis	Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa. Note: as Swartzia madagascariensis
Materials	wood	as Swartzia madagascariensis	Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa. Note: as Swartzia madagascariensis
Vertebrate poisons	fish	as Swartzia madagascariensis	Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa. Note: as Swartzia madagascariensis
Vertebrate poisons	mammals	as Swartzia madagascariensis	Burkill, H. M. 1985-2004. The useful plants of west tropical Africa. Note: as Swartzia madagascariensis

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=443643. Accessed 12 May 2026.