Scotsman's rattle
Amblygonocarpus andongensis

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A large spreading tree. It can be 15-20 m high. The bark is dark and scales into squares. The leaves are compound. They have 2-5 pairs of stalks each with 4-7 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are rather large. They are oblong and 3 cm long by 2 cm wide. The flowers are of both sexes. They are cream and in spikes in the axils of leaves. They can be in pairs and hang down. The fruit is a very distinct pod. It is 17 cm long by 3.5 cm wide. They are glossy brown with 4 marked ridges. This makes the pods almost square in cross section.

Chemical composition (seed acids [Rhodesian sample]): Oil = 12%. Component esters (wt. %): 16:0 = 4%. 18:0 = 4%. 18:1 = 22%. 18:2 = 576%. 18:3 = 2%. 20:0 = 3%. 20:1 = 1%. 22:0 = 5%. 24:0 = 2%. Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in low altitude deciduous forest. It is often on Kalahari sands. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,370 m above sea level. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Chad, Congo, East Africa, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The pods gathered as they fall in the wind. The seeds are roasted and eaten whole, or pounded into a dry powder and usually seasoned with salt.

Edible parts

Seeds, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dagbni nanzidow, Fula-fulfulde, Matindire, Munyenye, Mutindiri, Muwaka, Njekere, Umnonjwana, Yake

Synonyms

Amblygonocarpus obtusangulus (Welw. ex Oliver) Harms; Amblygonocarpus schweinfurthii Harms; Tetrapleura andongensis Welw.; Tetrapleura andongensis var. schweinfurthii (Harms) Aubrevv.