Bussea occidentalis
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 30 m high. The trunk is usually straight. It is 75 cm across. The crown is small and dense. The leaves are compound. They are twice divided. There are 4-6 pairs of opposite pinnae each 7-20 cm long. They are swollen at the base. These each have 5-8 leaflets 4-10 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. Young leaves have rusty hairs. The flowers are large and yellow. They have a scent. The flowering clusters are 20-30 cm long and have rusty hairs. The fruit are curved pods. They are 15-30 cm long. The pod curls up after opening. The seeds are thick and oily.
There are 7 Bussea species. Also as Caesalpinaceae. It has previously been confused with Peltophorum perocarpum in West Africa.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in evergreen and deciduous forests in West Africa.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, West Africa
How it is used for food
The seeds are roasted and eaten.
Fruit are sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Seeds
How it is grown
In Sierra Leone the flowers are in June and fruit mature in December or January.
Its other names
Local names
Gpaoro, Helei, Hilei, Kpakelay, Samanta, Silo, Tuammaklayea