Tallow tree, Dattock
Detarium senegalense
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A small tree. It grows to 5-7 m high in savannah areas. It can be 36 m high. It has a short trunk and a spreading crown. The bark is grey and rough. It flakes off in angular sections. The bark is hard to cut. The leaves are made up of 5-12 leaflets along a stalk. The leaves are 6-10 cm long and 2.5-5 cm wide. They are rounded at the base. The leaves are pale green and leathery. The leaflet stalk is stout and 3-5 mm long. The flowers are creamy white. They occur in clusters. Individual flowers are 10 mm across. The fruit are round or oval and 4 cm across. They contain one seed. The flesh is edible. The flesh is green and a fibrous network attaches to the hard shell of the seed. The kernel of the seed is a deep purple brown.
Also as Caesalpinaceae.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Africa. It grows in savannah woodland. It occurs where the rainfall is 900-1600 mm per year. It also grows near beaches and coastal sand dunes.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, West Africa (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The sweet pulp of the fruit is eaten fresh. It is also dried. CAUTION: The seeds are said to be poisonous. There are toxic and non toxic varieties. Sweet pulp from the roots is used as a substitute for sugar.
The fruit are sold in markets. It is reasonably commonly eaten in West Africa. It is important in Senegal.
Edible parts
Seeds, fruit, kernels, nuts, leaves, caution, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants are grown by seed.
Its other names
Local names
Bobode, Borre, Boto, Bumbuar, Bungungut, Cudoce, Detah, Dita, Ditakh, Ditax, Dupwi, Gatabo, Kita, Mabodo, Mambode, Mumasoko, Ntamankunda, Ogbogbo, Po-pondogo, Querenduta, Saroco, Tallo
Synonyms
Detarium heudelotianum Baill.;