[3] Although the species epithet given by François Pellegrin in the first publication is africana,[4] it should be amended into masculine form, i.e. africanus per the ICN (ed.

An exception is made for names ending in ‑anthos (or ‑anthus), ‑chilos (‑chilus or ‑cheilos), and ‑phykos (‑phycos or ‑phycus), which ought to be neuter, because that is the gender of the Greek words άνθος, anthos, χείλος, cheilos, and φύκος, phykos, but are treated as masculine in accordance with tradition.

"[5] The species is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.

The genus name is derived from the botanist Turra (1607-1688) of Padua, Italy and anthos, a Greek word meaning flower.

[8] Avodire wood has long been valued in furniture for its naturally lustrous surface, which has led to the name African Satinwood.