Baphia is a small genus of legumes that bear simple leaves. Baphia is from the Greek word βάπτω (báptō-, "to dip" or "to dye"), referring to a red dye that is extracted from the heartwood of tropical species. The genus is restricted to the African tropics. Baphia was traditionally assigned to the tribe Sophoreae; however, recent molecular phylogenetic analyses reassigned Baphia to the tribe Baphieae.

Species

Baphia comprises the following species:

Section Alata M.O.Soladoye

Section Baphia Lodd.

Series Baphia Lodd.

Series Contiguinae M.O.Soladoye

Series Spathaceae M.O.Soladoye

Section Bracteolaria (Hochst.) Benth.

Section Longibracteolatae (Lester-Garland) M.O.Soladoye

Series Chrysophyllae M.O.Soladoye

Series Macranthae M.O.Soladoye

Series Striatae (Lester Garland) M.O.Soladoye

Section Macrobaphia Harms emend. M.O.Soladoye

Incertae sedis

Species names with uncertain taxonomic status

The status of the following species is unresolved: In 2023, a new species, Baphia arenicola was discovered growing in the deep sandy highland region of central Angola, part of the Kalahari sands, and was formally described to science. The floral characters most morphologically similar to Baphia massaiensis but with certain characters also comparable to Baphia bequaertii, with all three species found growing in the same region. Preliminary molecular analysis places the new taxon close to Baphia bequaertii. Whilst most Baphia form above ground shrubs and trees, Baphia arenicola grows as a geoxylic suffrutex (often described as "underground trees") with most of its woody tissue growing buried deep within the sand and its flowering parts just above ground level.