Butter-oil tree
Lannea barteri

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 5-18 m tall and has a spreading crown. The trunk can be 40 cm across. Plants are separately male and female. The fruit are purple to red. It is cylinder shaped and 10-13 mm long by 7-8 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in arid places. It grows in savannah grassland and on the edge of forests. It grows up to 1,600 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The pulp of the fruit is eaten.

Fruit are only occasionally eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from fresh seeds. It can also be grown from cutings. The tree can be cut back and pruned. It can be grown as a hedge.

Its other names

Local names

Bembe, Bumbe, Dinbe, Faruhi, Issian, Kanchimbelli, Kobewu, Kondro, Kuntunkuni, Kutchuichivi, Mon, Namisinfara, Nebbamhi, Nimbiligh, Paruhi, Peku, Sabagha, Sambituliga, Sinsabga, Sinsabye-tiliga, Sisibega, Sisibigolo, Soriyehi, Tiuko, Tudi, Yoda swan

Synonyms

Calesiam barteri Kuntze; Lannea kerstingii Engl. & K. Krause; Odina barteri Oliv.;