Milicia excelsa (commonly known as African teak, mvule or iroko) is a tree species from tropical Africa. It is one of two tree species yielding timber known as iroko, the other being Milicia regia. It is threatened by habitat loss. The seed is mainly dispersed by bats.

Evolution of the Iroko

In a study it was seen that isolation was caused by one or more of the animals that are known for dispersal of Milicia excelsa (i.e. Bats, rodents, and birds). It is hypothesized that the ancestor slowly developed a different flowering time from its ancestor, which lead to differences in selection pressure during the time of reproduction. This, over time, has resulted in the tree that we see today commonly known as Iroko. Although this is the theory that has the most evidence, it is possible for Milicia excelsa to have evolved in a different way.

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