Nigerian Powder-Flask Fruit. African afraegle
Afraegle paniculata

Family: Rutaceae

What it is like

Afraegle paniculata is an evergreen Tree growing to 12 m (39ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 12

Where it is found

Lowland secondary thickets and fringes of the dense forest. Savannah, (rarely) dry forest and edges; gallery forest; secondary thickets on coastal plains at elevations up to 500 metres.

West tropical Africa - Senegal to Nigeria.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Gold Coast, West Africa

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

The seeds are said to yield an edible oil. Leaves - cooked. The leaves are only used rarely. The globose or obovoid fruit is as large as a big orange (6 - 8cm in diameter when mature), wrinkled on the surface, without odorous glands. This report does not say that the fruit is edible.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 3

The plant has a range of medicinal uses.

Other

Rating: 2

Agroforestry Uses: This species is being tested as a rootstock for the bael fruit, Aegle marmelos, a species which often does not grow well on its own roots. Other Uses The leaves are sometimes macerated and added to the water used for bathing. The wood is used to make household, domestic and personal items.

Industrial Crop: Glue: Plants used to make glue products.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

Industrial Crop: Glue: Plants used to make glue products.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Staple Crop: Oil: (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

In the quasi-tropical coastal region near Miami, Florida, which has an unusual type of soil consisting largely of porous-limestone rock intermingled with fine sand or very sandy loam, this species, when well fertilized, makes extraordinary growth - a specimen growing near Coconut Grove, when only four or five years old and only 1.6 - 1.8 metres tall, had a lateral spread of 4.5 - 6 metres. As it grew older, it became much taller but still had long branches.

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Bonquete-cunhide, Boranabo, Citron d'éléphant, Cursadje, Cursam-o

Synonyms

Aegle barteri Hook.f. ex Oliv. Balsamocitrus paniculata (Schumach. & Thonn.) Swingle Citrus paniculata Schumach. & Thonn. Limonia warneckei Engl.