Meni oil tree, Red Oak, Red Ironwood
Lophira alata

Family: Ochnaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 40-60 m tall and is 5 m across. The trunk is straight and does not have buttresses. The bark is reddish and flakes off in small patches. The leaves occur in tufts at the ends of small branches. The leaves are 12-38 cm long by 3.5-10 cm wide. The are wide sword shaped. They have notches. The leaf stalks can be 2.5 cm long. The flowers can be yellow. The fruit are about 3 cm long and 12 mm wide with wide wings. The wings can be 5-10 cm long by 1.2-3.2 cm wide.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest. It suits humid locations. It can grow in poor and acidic soils. It can be in seasonally flooded forests.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, CAR, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Plants are grown from fresh seeds. Seeds germinate in 9-16 days. They can be grown from stem cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Akoga, Akufo, Azobe, Bongossi, Bonkole, Ega, Ekki, False Shea, Hos, Kaku, Kofyo, Lekwa, Ngoka, Ngokele, Okoa, Okoka

Synonyms

Lophira procera;