Uapaca togoensis

Family: Phyllanthaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows to 12 m high. The trunk is 1 m around. The trunk is straight then spreads to a wide crown. Trees growing in swampy ground can develop stilt roots. The bark is thick, dark grey and cracked. The leaves are 11-25 cm long by 5-15 cm wide. The leaves are oval and wedge shaped at the base. The edge can be slightly wavy. The leaf stalk is stout and 1-6 cm long. Male and female flowers can both occur in the same tree. The male flowers are on stout stalks 12-18 mm long. The heads are 5 mm across. The female flowers have short thick stalks. The fruit are round and yellow. They are 18 mm across. They contain 3 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in savannah locations. Trees grow in swampy ground. It grows along the edges of streams. In Nigeria it has been recorded at 230 and 1,400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, West Africa

How it is used for food

It is a commonly used fruit in West Africa.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ajegbe, Bichine, Bissime, Dzogebedro, Iagale, Iala-guei, Kafafago, Mantchampo, Somon

Synonyms

Uapaca guignardii A. Chev. ex Beille; Uapaca somon Aubrev. & Leandri;