Ntiore, Uku
Autranella congolensis

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows to 40 m high. The trunk is straight and does not have branches until 30 m up. The leaves are in spirals and are at the ends of branches. The leaves are narrowly oval and 10-15 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. The flowers contain both sexes. The fruit is a fleshy berry 5-10 cm long. It is yellowish green and has a warty appearance. It has one or two seeds. The seed is about 4.5 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in evergreen rainforest. It suits humid locations.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Gabon, Nigeria, West Africa

How it is used for food

An edible oil is extracted from the seeds and used for cooking.

The seeds are used for oil in Gabon.

Edible parts

Seeds - oil, seeds

How it is grown

Seedlings grow slowly. In Central African Republic flowers have been recorded in March. The fruit take 4-5 months to ripen.

Its other names

Local names

Bukambanda, Mbanda

Synonyms

Mimusops boonei De Wild.; Mimusops congolensis De Wild.; Mimusops letestui Lecomte; and others