African mahogany, Lucky-bean tree
Afzelia africana

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 6-30 m tall. Often is loses its leaves during part of the year. It has thick branches. It has short thick buttresses near the base. The bark is dark brown. Large pieces of bark flake off. The leaves are compound. The leaf stalks are 32 cm long. There are 2-5 pairs of leaflets. They are oval and 5-15 cm long. The tip is pointed. The flowers occur in heads about 10 cm long. Each flower is 1-2 cm long and has only one petal. The flower is green-white with pink lines. The fruit is a large woody straight pod. It can be 10-20 cm long and 5-8 cm wide. The seeds are black and 3 cm long. They are half covered with a soft bright orange aril. They lie in white pith.

There are 15 Afzelia species. They occur in the tropics. Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

It grows in the tropics. It grows in wooded grassland and better rainfall areas. It can grow in dry stony soils. It grows between 1,220-1,370 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sierra Leone, S Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The aril of the seed is eaten. The seeds are used as a soup thickener. The seeds are also used as a spice. The young leaves and young fruit are eaten. The seeds are made into flour for biscuits.

They are chewed especially by children.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, fruit - aril, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed can be self sown, sown where they are to grow or can be put in a nursery. The orange aril should be removed from the seed and cutting the seed coat slightly may help seed germinate. Seed can be stored for a long time in an airtight container. Plants can be budded.

The plant is slow growing.

Its other names

Local names

Akpalata, Aru, Becancha, Becancla, Bignani, Biique, Butaua, Butone, Congo, Gbeou, Gongo, Kankalga, Lencom-o, Lengue, Lenguei, Lengueje, Leonco, Lingue, Luengue, Meli, Oru, Papao, Pau-conta, Pega, Po-de-conta, Yiase

Synonyms

Intsia ?, Pahudia africana