Irvingia grandifolia

Family: Irvingiaceae

What it is like

A deciduous tree. It grows to 40 m high. The trunk is 1.5 m across. The leaves are 20-35 cm long by 10-15 cm wide. The leaves turn red before they fall. The flowers are yellow. The fruit are oblong and 5 cm long by 3 cm wide. They are fleshy with soft sweet pulp when ripe. There is a hard stone inside the fruit with one seed.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the forest zone in Central Africa. It grows in forest on dry land.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Gabon, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, West Africa

How it is used for food

The outer flesh is sweet. The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw. The seeds are eaten raw or cooked.

The fruit are not commonly used.

Edible parts

Nuts, bark, fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. Seed only remain viable for a short time.

Fruit production is seasonal.

Its other names

Local names

Alube, Andok ngoue, Andongwe, Ghambole, Ibelandei, Zokoso

Synonyms

Klainedoxa grandifolia Engl.; Irvingella grandifolia (Engl.) Hallier f.; Irvingia klainei Tiegh.;