African nutmeg
Monodora tenuifolia
Family: Annonaceae
What it is like
A small tree. It grows to 15 m high. The trunk can be 1.2 m across. The crown is spreading. The bark is grey-green with dark lines along it. The leaves are 7-20 cm long. They are 3.5-7.5 cm across. The are usually rounded at the base and pointed at the tip. The leaf stalks are 6 mm long. The flowers are on stalks 3.5-7.5 cm long. They have a bract half way up. The flowers are yellow at the tips with red-purple blotches. The fruit are 7-10 cm long by 8 cm across. They are speckled green and white, but turn black with maturity.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows on the edges of forests. It can tolerate some fires re-sprouting from the base. It grows at low elevations. In Nigeria it is recorded at 900 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Asia, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, SE Asia, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds - flavouring
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seeds.
Plants flower in February, October and November and fruit in April.
Its other names
Local names
Ariwo, Bolhanei, Djingo, Kembang macan afrika, Lakosin, Molhanei, Motokuradua, Monodora macan tutul, Quele-mai, Setane