Sacoglottis gabonensis
Family: Humiriaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 30 m high. The trunk can be 3 m around. It has buttresses. The crown is dense and dark green. The bark is reddish-brown. It peels off easily. The small branches are smooth. The leaves are 7.5-15 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They are wedge shaped at the base and taper to the tip. They are slightly notched with shallow, forward pointing teeth. They are leathery. The flowers are crowded on branched stalks in the axils of leaves. The individual flowers are almost without stalks. The buds are green and the petals yellow. The fruit are oval or round and 2.5-4.5 cm long. They have a hard stone inside.
There are 9 Sacoglottis species. Most are in South America.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in tropical rainforest. It especially grows in fresh water swamp forest. It suits humid locations.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa
How it is used for food
The bark is used for adding a bitter taste to palm wine. The fruit is sweet and edible.
The fruit are eaten especially by children.
Edible parts
Fruit, bark, seeds
How it is grown
Plants can be grown by seed. Seeds can take 4 months to germinate.
Fruit develop slowly over the dry season.
Its other names
Local names
Akouapo, Atala, Edat, Edoue, Eloue, Fawere, Ozouga, Tiabutuo, Ugu