Bread tree, African wild mango
Irvingia gabonensis

Family: Irvingiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 40 m high. The trunk is 1 m across. It has narrow buttresses. The bark is light grey and smooth. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are 3.5-16 cm long and 2-8 cm wide. The flowers are small and yellowish-green among the leaves. They have a scent. The fruit are 10-13 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The fruit has a thick covering and one seed.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the humid forest zone in central Africa. It grows below 1,000 m altitude. It grows in areas with a rainfall of 1,500-3,000 mm per year. The temperatures are between 25°-32°C.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The seed provides oil used in cooking. It is used to make Gabon chocolate or Dika bread. The kernels are ground and eaten in dishes of mixed vegetables. The kernels are extracted from the stones then roasted. They are then pounded and poured into a mould. This cheese is then scraped and added to boiling meat or vegetables. It is like a relish, especially for plantain bananas. The pulp of the fruit is eaten fresh. The leaves are used for a sticky sauce.

The kernels are commonly sold in markets. They are available in stores in Australia and Tasmania. The fruit of some types are good to eat.

Edible parts

Seeds, fruit, kernels, leaves, bark - drink, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seeds germinate in about 14 days. It can be grown from stem cuttings under mist. Plants can be budded.

Young trees are slow growing. Fruit are usually harvested from the ground.

Its other names

Local names

Abesebuo, Aikpele, Ambele, Ando, Andok, Ando'o, Apioro, Apon, Aslotin, Assro, Be, Besay, Biri, Boborou, Bojep, Bush mango, Dika, Duika, Ebi, Eloweh, En'doe, Eniok, Esele, Gbabou, Gbalea, Gluea, Goron, Goronor, Iveh, Iweh, Kaklou, Kelua, Mango-bravo, Manguier, Mbukpabuyo, Mfume, Mwiba, Mopae, N'corobaque, Ndoka, Njaka, Njap, Nouak, Ntwa, Odika, Ogbono, Ogwe, Ogwi, Oro, Pekie, Pfeke, Sana mana, Sausage, Sweet bush mango, Ugiri, Uncorobaque, Upupa, Uyo

Synonyms

Irvingia barteri Hook. f.; Mangifera gabonensis Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke; Irvingia tenuifolia Hook.f.;