Boleko-nut
Ongokea gore

Family: Olacaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 40 m tall. The trunk is straight for 25 m without branches and 1.2 m wide. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are 4-11 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. They end with a point, The fruit are fleshy and 5 cm across. There is a hard stone inside containing one seed.

There is only one Ongokea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in mountain regions. It grows in dense evergreen forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are used to give an oily taste for soup.

Edible parts

Fruit, nuts

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. Seeds can take up to one year to germinate.

It grows slowly. In Congo DR fruit are common in September.

Its other names

Local names

Angueuk, Bodwe, Busolo, Bwelabako, Ekuso, Elede, Ko-sin, Kouero, Kuwi, Mobenge, Njek, Nke, Ntieti, Ntutu, Samu, Sanou

Synonyms

Ongokea klaineana Pierre; Ongokea kamerunensis Engl.;