African nutmeg
Pycnanthus angolensis

Family: Myristicaceae

What it is like

An large evergreen tree. It grows 35 m high. The trunk is 25 m tall and 1.6 m across. The main branches come out parallel to the ground, but high up. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are 20-30 cm long by 6-11 cm wide. The fruit are oval and 3-4 cm long by 2.5-3 cm wide. It opens in 2 valves. It has a red layer around the seed like nutmeg.

There are 3-4 Pycnanthus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet forest with over 1,600 mm rainfall. It needs good sunlight. It is often along river banks. It is sensitive to drought. In Nigeria it grows to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

An oil is made from the seeds but it is not edible. The leaves are cooked as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Seeds - spice, leaves

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed, but seed are slow and irregular to grow. They should be sown fresh. They should be soaked in cold water for 24 hours. They may take 16-36 days to germinate.

It is fast growing.

Its other names

Local names

Akomu, Bakondo, Banda nzazi, Bangang, Bukalakala, Eteng, Gele, Ilomba, Kilomba, Kpoyei, Kunda mavondu, Lukalakala, Menebantam-o, Munzanga, Muscada, Mutanta-ntumbi, Ndidila, Nkoma, Otie, Sungala, Teng, Tenge, Tombe, Umpghan, Walele

Synonyms

Myristica angolensis Welw.; Pycnanthus kombo (Baill.) Warb.; Pycnanthus microcephalus;