Baphia nitida

{{Short description|Species of legume}}

{{confuse|text=Osyris lanceolata, also known as African sandalwood}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = African sandalwood (Baphia nitida).jpg

| image_caption =

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref =

| genus = Baphia

| species = nitida

| authority = Lodd.

| range_map = Baphia nitida distribution.svg

| range_map_caption = The distribution of Baphia nitida.

| synonyms = * Baphia angolensis sensu Lester-Garland

• Baphia barombiensis Taub.
• Baphia haematoxylon (Schum. & Thonn.) Hooker f.
• Carpolobia versicolor G. Don
• Delaria pyrifolia Desv.
• Podalyria haematoxylon Schum. & Thonn.

| synonyms_ref = {{cite journal | author = Soladoye MO | year = 1985 | title = A revision of Baphia (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) | journal = Kew Bulletin | volume = 40 | issue = 2 | pages = 291–386 | jstor = 4108263 | doi = 10.2307/4108263| bibcode = 1985KewBu..40..291S }}

}}

Baphia nitida, also known as camwood, barwood, and African sandalwood (although not a true sandalwood), is a shrubby, leguminous, hard-wooded tree from central west Africa. It is a small understorey, evergreen tree, often planted in villages, and known as osun in Yoruba.

The wood is of a very fine colour, and is used in woodturning for making knife handles and similar articles. The tree's bark and heartwood are commonly used to make a brilliant but non-permanent red dye, which is soluble in alkali.

Pterocarpin is a pterocarpan found in B. nitida.{{Cite web |url=http://kanaya.naist.jp/knapsack_jsp/information.jsp?mode=r&word=C00009616&key=5 |title=Pterocarpin at knapsack_jsp |access-date=2013-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222201449/http://kanaya.naist.jp/knapsack_jsp/information.jsp?mode=r&word=C00009616&key=5 |archive-date=2014-02-22 |url-status=dead }}

Osun (camwood) extract is also used in some soaps and skin treatments, primarily among the Yoruba people of West Africa. The extract of the Camwood can be formed into a soft soap like material that is thought to promote healthy skin.