Incense tree, African elemi, African canarium
Canarium schweinfurthii

Family: Burseraceae

What it is like

A tall tree. It grows 30-45 m tall. It loses its leaves during the year. The trunk is often straight and without branches for 30 m. The bark is grey and rough. It flakes off in pieces 30 cm by 10 cm. The crown of the tree is flat and with many branches. In young trees the branches are in rings at right angles to the trunk and curved upwards. The young branches have red-brown hairs. Roots above the ground can spread for 10 m. When the bark is cut the resin smells of incense. The leaves are compound and up to 50 cm long. The leaf stalk is 5 cm long and flattened on the top surface. There are 8-12 or more pairs of leaflets and one leaflet at the end. These are 15 cm long by 4 cm wide. They are elongated and the tip is pointed. The flowers occur in dense branched flower sprays. These can be 30 cm long. The flowers have 3 petals. The flower stalks have red brown hairs. The fruit is purplish and 4 cm by 2 cm. It is soft and smooth. The shell of the seed is long and triangular shaped. It splits evenly to release 3 seeds.

There are 80-95 Canarium species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the lowlands. It grows in forest and along the edges of rivers. It grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. It grows in areas with rainfall of 900-1,400 mm per year.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola (country/location of origin), Asia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon (country/location of origin), Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia (country/location of origin), Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit is eaten after being lightly boiled and sprinkled with a little salt. They are left to soak for 2-3 days to soften. It is also roasted or fried. The seeds are sometimes eaten cooked. The seeds are a source of oil used as a substitute for shea butter.

The fruit are popular with children. Fruit are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Nuts, seed, fruit pulp

How it is grown

Trees are grown from seeds. Many grow naturally. For collecting seeds, the fruit which fall and collected and the fleshy layer rotted off then the hard seed cases collected. These are put in hot water which is allowed to cool and soak for 24 hours. They are then sown directly where they are to grow. Seed can be stored for a long time. Plants can be budded.

Plants are slow growing. Fruit production is seasonal. In Tanzania fruiting occurs between August and December. The dry inner stone can be stored to 2 years. Fruit are collected after they fall or by climbing and shaking the tree.

Its other names

Local names

Agbabubu origbo, Agbaka, Aiele, Ambah, Atile, Be, Beele, Bele, Bobele, Boele, Bombele, Bushu basum, Dolo, Ebenetidok, Empafu, Etu, Faka, Gamfle, Gejabe, Ibele, Isinge, Kasuku, Liang, Limbini, Mbani, Mbe, Mbele, Mbidi, Mbilii, Misuku, Modjetchale, Mpafu, Mubafu, Musuku, Muwafu, Nbe, Nde, Obele, Oclanca, Okpoko, Opi, Owele, Oyele, Papo canary tree, Purple canary tree, Sawa, Shele, Sigonfi, Tafeley, Tchwele, Tiongo, Toele, Ube, Ubemgba, Ube okpoko, Ube osa, Voutine

Synonyms

Canarium chevalieri Guill.; Canarium khlala A. Chev.; Canarium occidentale A. Chev.;