Brimstone tree, West African boxwood
Nauclea diderrichii

Family: Rubiaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 40 m high. The trunk is 1.5 m across. It has low buttresses. The bark is grey and furrowed. The leaves are narrowly oval and 40 cm long. The flowers are white and green and in round heads. They are 3 cm across. The fruit is 4 cm across and round and succulent. It is white or grey and has ribs.

There are 10 Nauclea species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It is native to tropical Africa. It grows in damp sites in rain-forest below 500 m altitude in West Africa. It is best in sunny locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Hawaii, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pacific, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, USA, West Africa (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit are used in palm soup in Ghana.

The fruit are eaten when food is scarce.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

To collect seeds, the fruit are dried and then pounded. Dry seed can be stored for at least a year. Seeds are small and so should be put in a nursery and then transplanted. Plants can be grown by cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Akondok, Aloma, Badi, Bgilgnil-la, Bilinga, Brumston, Bundui, Hipen-lip-an, Ka-tholena, Kienga ki masa, Kilu, Kusia, Lingi, Mbundu, Mosayuri, Mosse, Moukonia mamundi, N'gulu, Ndundo, Ndundu-kaima, Ngulu masa, Ntomba, Obiakhe, Opepe, Yabanda-yire, Yadunde

Synonyms

Sarcocephalus diderrichii De Willd.;