Bitter almond, African almond
Prunus africana

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 25 m wide. The trunk can be 1 m across. It can be 10 m before branching. The crown is round. The limbs are large. The bark is almost black and very rough. The flowers are greenish-white. The fruit are purple.

It is widely used in medicine including for prostrate conditions. It is an at risk plant.

Where it is found

It is an tropical plant. It grows in evergreen forest and mountain areas in West Africa. It is recorded up to 2,100 m above sea level in Nigeria.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Sudan, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

They are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves - flavouring

How it is grown

Trees often fruit every second year.

Its other names

Local names

Chachu, Garbicho, Muchambati, Muiri, Red stinkwood, Thikur inchet, Tikur enchet

Synonyms

Pygaeum africanum Hook. f.; Pygeum crassifolium Hauman; Laurocerasus africana (Hook.f.) Browicz;