Musk Tree, Wonder cola
Buchholzia coriacea

Family: Capparaceae

What it is like

A forest tree. It grows to 10-20 m high. The trunk is 1.5 m across. The crown is dense and evergreen. The bark is smooth and dark green or brown. The leaves are 15-25 cm long and 5-7.5 cm wide. They are pale green on the upper surface and very pale green underneath. The leaf stalk is 5-12.5 cm long and swollen at each end. The leaves are arranged in spirals at the ends of the small branches. The flowers are in clusters about 25 cm long. They occur among the leaves near the ends of the shoots. The fruit are 12 cm long and 5-7.5 cm wide. They are yellowish when ripe. The flesh is yellow and contains a few large blackish seed. These are about 25 mm long. The seeds are edible and taste peppery.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows as an understorey tree in the lowland rainforest. It suits humid locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

The aril or fleshy layer around the seeds is chewed. The fruit are stored for a few days then boiled and eaten. The seeds are eaten after prolonged boiling.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, nuts

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Esono-bise, Owi, Uke, Uworo

Synonyms

Buchholzia macrophylla A. Chev.;