Tallow tree, Vegetable tallow tree
Allanblackia floribunda
Family: Clusiaceae
What it is like
A tree up to 30 m tall. The trunk is straight. The bark is dark brown. The branches are slender and drooping. They are often in rings. The leaves are 10-25 cm long and 3.5-7.5 cm wide. They are rounded at the base and taper to the tip. The flowers are large and white, pink or red. They have a fragrant smell. The fruit are sausage shape pods 45 cm long and 12 cm across. They hang on the ends of short branches. They taper towards each end. They are brown and roughly fleshy with grooves along them. They contain up to 50-100 red-brown seeds. The seeds are about 4 cm by 2 cm and irregular in shape. They have flattened surfaces. The seeds are in a pink pulp.
There are 10 Allanblackia species. Guttiferae/Clusiaceae are mostly confined to the tropics and subtropics.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It occurs in Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Congo and Uganda. It grows in forest.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Benin, Cabinda, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Equatorial-Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa
How it is used for food
The fat of the seeds is eaten. It can be used to make margarine. The fruits slimy pulp can be made into jams and jellies. The seeds are roasted and eaten.
It is valued for its nuts.
Edible parts
Seeds, fruit, leaves
How it is grown
It is best grown vegetatively. Leafy stem cuttings can be used but it may take 25 weeks before significant roots form. Plants can be grown from seed but the germination rate is low and trees take a long time to fruit. Both male and female trees are needed.
The kernel is about 62% of the seeds by weight.
Its other names
Local names
Anyoe, Bianji, Ebungo matatolo, Egba, Izeni, Kisidwe, Mbawandje, Nionzo nzibu, Nsangomo, Nyonne, Orongbo-erin, Ouotera, Sangoma
Synonyms
Allanblackia klainei; Allanblackia parviflora A. Chev.;