Maranthes glabra

Family: Chrysobalanaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 30-40 m high. The trunk is cylinder shape and straight. It can be 4 m around and have slight buttresses. The crown is dense and spreading. The flowers are in dense flat flower heads. These can be 20 cm across. The fruit are 3.5 cm long

There are about 10 Maranthes species. They are mostly in tropical Africa.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in evergreen and deciduous forests in West Africa. It can be in seasonally flooded forests. In Nigeria it has been recorded at 750 and 1,440 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Seeds

How it is grown

In Central African Republic it flowers in May and August.

Its other names

Local names

Aramon, Asila oman, Pinini, Takrowa, Zwahn

Synonyms

Ferolia glabra (Oliv.) Kuntze; Maranthes glabra var. gilletii (De Wild.) Mendes; Parinari gilletii De Wild.; Parinari glabra Oliv.; Parinari montana Engl. [Illegitimate]; Parinari tibatensis Engl.;