Irvingia wombolu

Botanical Description

Irvingia wombulu is a tree with a spherical, fairly dense crown; it can grow up to 25 metres tall. The bole, which is often slightly leaning, can be free of branches for 7 - 10 metres, up to 80cm in diameter and with buttresses up to 2 metres high[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. , 328 Title African Flowering Plants Database Publication Author Website http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php Publisher Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. Year 0 ISBN Description Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map. , 405 Title Irvingiaceae: Flora of the World Part 1: 1 - 25 Publication Author Harris. D.J. Publisher Australian Biological Resources Study; Canberra Year 1999 ISBN 0 642 56800 6 Description A monograph of the Irvingiaceae which includes some plant uses. ]. The various Irvingia species, though especially this species, produce a very important food crop in Africa, where the edible seed is harvested from the wild both for local use and also for trade. The plant is usually harvested from the wild, mainly for use as a food, but also for local medicinal use and as a source of wood. The seeds are widely traded, both domestically and between countries in West and Central Africa, and they are also exported to Europe[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. The tree is usually retained when the forest is cleared for agriculture and in some areas of Africa it is also specifically planted as a crop and shade-providing tree in plantations[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. A programme of domestication, selecting the best trees, is underway in Africa[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ].