Iron-heart tree
Bobgunnia madagascariensis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 18 m tall. The bark is grey or rbown and is deeply cracked. The young branches have rusty brown hairs. The leaves are compound. The leaves are 6-15 cm long. There are 5-9 leaflets and these are 2-6 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They are usually darker coloured above. The lower surface is hairy. The flowers are on unbranched stalks. These are 5 cm long. They have about 10 flowers. The petals are white with a yellow patch at the base inside. The fruit are pods 8-18 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are usually bumpy and twisted. They are hard and dark brown. They contain several seeds. The seeds are 7-8 mm long by 5-7 mm wide and 3 mm thick.

The seeds are used as a fish poison.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in deciduous woodland. It is mainly on sandy soils. It grows between 150-1,740 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Gambia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Cilonde, Fule fule, Gu giriki, Mulundu, Ndale, Ohli

Synonyms

Swartzia madagascariensis Desv.; Tounatea madagascariensis (Desv.) Baill.;