Irvingia smithii

Family: Irvingiaceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows to 20 m high. The crown is wide spreading. The leaves are oval and rounded at the base and taper to the tip. The leaves are 6-10 cm long by 3.5-4 cm wide. They are more pale green underneath. The flowers are small and white. They are in spikes 10-15 cm long. They are at the ends of branches. They have a scent. The fruit are 3-4 cm long and 2.5-3 cm wide. They are green but turn dark red as they ripen. They contain a hard stone with one seed.

Also put in the family Picramniaceae. There are 41 Picramnia species. They are usually in rainforest. They are tropical. These were previously in the family Simaroubaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It usually grows along river banks and seasonally flooded forests.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo DR, Congo R, Nigeria, Sudan, West Africa

How it is used for food

The nuts or seeds are eaten fresh or with other foods. The pulp of the fruit is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Nuts, fruit, kernel, seeds

How it is grown

Plants are grown by seed. Fruit float and are spread by rivers. The young germinating plants can be under water.

Trees can take about 10 years until flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Bosombo, Denge, Egili, Goro biri

Synonyms

Picramnia camboita (Tiegh.) Engl.;