Camwood, African coralwood
Pterocarpus soyauxii
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A tall tree. The trunk is 25 m tall and 1.5 m across. The leaves are alternate and compound. The leaves are 20-25 cm long. There are 11-17 leaflets along the stalk that are 7-8 cm long by 2.5-3 cm wide. The flowers are bright yellow. The fruit is a round pod. It has a membrane layer around it. They are 7 cm across. There is one seed.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in evergreen or deciduous forests. It grows between 50-500 m above sea level. It is best with an annual rainfall of 1,500-1,700 mm. It is best in a sunny position and a moist well-drained soil.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Cabinda, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, West Africa
How it is used for food
The leaves and young shoots are cooked as a vegetable and used in soups.
Leaves are sold in local markets.
Edible parts
Leaves, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seeds. Seeds should be soaked in cold water overnight. Seeds germinate in about 7 days. Plants can be budded. Plants can be grown from stem cuttings.
Seedlings grow quickly. There is a flush of edible leaves during the dry season.
Its other names
Local names
Akume, Epion, Kisese, Koula, Mbe, Mbel, Mbele, Mbie, Mohingue, Ngele, Oha, Osun pupa, Tizeze