| DESCRIPTION: It is An evergreen tree reaching 25 m in height, with a large, dense crown casting a deep shade. Form of the bole is generally short, bossed, branched low down, and sometimes slightly swollen at the base, not usually exceeding 6 m in length and 0.8 m in diameter. Bark thin, rather smooth, lenticillate, greenish-brown, slightly fissured. Fruit an ellipsoidal drupe, 3-4 cm long, with an extremely hard kernel. USE: The oily kernel has a taste comparable to that of a chestnut or hazelnut. It can be eaten raw, grilled or boiled. It contains 50% fat, of which 87% is oleic acid. Wood produces suitable charcoal. The sapwood is pinkish-brown, the heartwood is dark red or violet brownish-red. It is extremely hard, heavy, close-grained, and resists water well. It is also resistant to insect attack, particularly termites. It has the disadvantage of being liable to shake and crack. It is used for making piles for bridges and railway ties. GROWING PERIOD: Perennial. Flowering takes place from April to June and the fruit is available from August to January. Fruit is usually found under the mother trees. COMMON NAMES: African walnut. FURTHER INF: It is native of western tropical Africa. It has its main distribution in the rain forest. It tolerates moderate shade and is normally a constituent of the upper reaches of the lower storey but is also found in the upper canopy. It is semi-gregarious and does not appear to be selective about sites. It is a semi-gregarious species without special soil requirements. |
