Torchwood
Balanites wilsoniana

Family: Zygophyllaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows to 35 m high. The trunk can be 3 m around. There are buttresses. Young trees have long branched spines. The bark is thin and yellow or greenish-grey. The non flowering branches have spines. There are no spines on the flowering branches. The leaves have 2 leaflets. The leaflets are 5-13 cm long by 3.5-7 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 10-25 mm long. The stalks of the leaflets are 5-15 mm long. The flowers are in clusters. They are produced above the leaf axils. The flowers are green with long hairs on the inner surface. The fruit are oval and 4-10 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. They are yellow when ripe. There is a single seed encased in a hard stone.

The fruit pulp kill the snails that spread Bilharzia.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest. It suits humid locations. In Tanzania it grows between sea level and 400 m above sea level. In Nigeria it grows up to 1200 m above sea level. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 1,000-1,800 mm. It can tolerate a range of soils but is best in rich loams.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The seed kernel is edible. They are boiled cut thinly and then soaked in running water to remove bitterness. The seeds are the source of a clear oil similar to olive oil. The seeds are pounded and boiled in water then allowed to cool and the oil skimmed off. The fruit are eaten occasionally.

Edible parts

Nuts, fruit, oil

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or root suckers.

In Tanzania fruit are collected between August and October. Seed can be stored for months.

Its other names

Local names

Bechieta, Biwala, Budare, Ekela, Ekele, Kivuw'a, Kobo, Mbiwala, Mguguni, Mkonga, Mngalangala, Mwera, Popoma, Ubogho, Ulele, Wamba

Synonyms

Balanites maughamii;