Michelsonia
Introduction '''''Michelsonia''''' is a genus of tree in the legume family, Fabaceae, where it is classified in the subfamily Detarioideae. It is a monotypic genus, the only species being '''''Michelsonia microphylla'''''. It is native to the tropical rain forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The wood is used locally for construction work.
Description ''Michelsonia microphylla'' is a medium to large tree with a spreading crown, growing to a height of  or more. The trunk is cylindrical and bare of branches for the first . It can grow to a diameter of about , the base flaring out a little and sometimes having small buttresses. The pinnate leaves are alternate and have ten to sixteen pairs of leaflets. The compound inflorescences are at the tips of the shoots and the individual flowers have white petals about  long, and are followed by flat, glossy brown, woody pods up to  long. These are so heavy that they sink in water. This tree is similar in appearance to ''Tetraberlinia baregarum'', with which it can be confused.
Ecology This tree is one of several species in the family Fabaceae that form monodominant stands in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, either singly, or in conjunction with ''Brachystegia laurentii'', ''Cynometra alexandri'', ''Gilbertiodendron dewevrei'' or ''Julbernardia seretii''. In 1983, it occurred throughout the Congo Basin. In the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, between about , it was co-dominant with ''Staudtia stipitata'' and ''Julbernardia seretii'', and was abundant at higher elevations. However it has become much rarer and is no longer plentiful in its previous habitats.
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