Bauhinia thonningii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It can grow 20 m tall with a trunk 20 cm across. The leaves have 2 lobes. They are 5-17 cm long by 6-19 cm wide. The flowers are white. The pods are 12-30 cm long by 3-6.5 cm wide. The seeds are dark brown and 7-9 mm long by 5-7 mm wide and 3-4 mm thick.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The sour shoots are used in porridge or chewed raw. The dry fruit pulp is eaten.

Edible parts

Shoots, fruit, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Epapai, Mussequessa, Niama, Ogali

Synonyms

Piliostigma thonningii (Schum.) Milne-Redh.;