Bitter bush mango
Irvingia wombolu

Family: Irvingiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 25 m tall. The trunk is 80 cm across. It has buttresses 2 m high. The crown is dense and round. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaf blade is 10-14 cm long by 4-6 cm wide. The flowers are in a group 9 cm long in the axils of leaves and are yellow. The fruit is fleshy and oval. It is 5-8 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. They are green but turn yellow when ripe. The pulp is yellow and soft. There is a woody stone with one seed.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in dryland forest with a rainfall above 1,500 mm per year.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The seeds are removed and pounded into a paste and eaten with greens and other sauces. The dried seeds are used in soups. The fruit is bitter and slimy but is occasionally used to thicken soups.

It is a valuable fruit and nut. The seeds are sold in local markets and traded.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Plants are usually grown from seed. Fresh seed is used. Seed lose their viability after one month.

Fruit production is seasonal. Fruit are usually harvested from the ground.

Its other names

Local names

Bojep, Eloweh, Gluea, Kelua, Madohu, Mobolou, Ogbono, Tou, Toutou, Tubi, Zokoso

Synonyms

Irvingia gabonensis var. excelsa;