Ito tree
Millettia thonningii

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 9-12 m tall. It has several stems. It loses its leaves during the dry season of the year. The leaves have 7-9 narrowly oval leaflets. These are 4-7 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. The flowers are purple. They appear with the young leaves.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It often grows on termite mounds. It grows in areas with an average annual rainfall of 600-1,000 mm. It grows in savannah and secondary forest. In Brisbane Botanical gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Asia, Australia, Central Africa (country/location of origin), Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Togo, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds. It can also be grown from root cuttings that have been allowed to form shoots.

Its other names

Local names

Pohon ito, Pohon turburku

Synonyms

Robinia thonningii Schum. & Thonn.;