Isoberlinia tomentosa

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 12-18 m tall. The trunk is 80 cm across. It is often hollow. There are 3-4 pairs of leaflets. They are 10-25 cm long by 5-13 cm wide. The flowers are in loose groups. The petals are white. The fruit are pods 15-30 cm long by 5-9 cm wide. They have rusty hairs. The seeds are 2-3 cm long by 2-3 cm wide.

Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the savannah forest in West Africa on high and more stony ground. In southern Africa it grows between 900-1,600 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten and also used as a flavouring.

Edible parts

Leaves, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dooka, Kalsaka, Kangkalaga, Palsonyao

Synonyms

Berlinia tomentosa Harms; Isoberlinia dalzielii Craib & Stapf; Westia tomentosa (Harms) Macbr.;