English: African Nutmeg
Region: tropical west Africa, Gambia, Sudan, Kenya, Angola, Tanzania; cultivated on the Antilles, in Indonesia; ornamental tree with its attractive leaves and orchid-like, conspicuous and scented flowers
Habitat: evergreen and deciduous forest, riverine or lakeside fringing type; elevations from 1140 to 1800 metres; prefers a deep, fertile loam soil; sheltered position in full sun or light shade.
Content: 5 - 9% of a colourless essential oil, of terpenes and with a pleasant taste and smell; seeds reddish-brown fixed oil, with linoleic acid, oleic acid.
Use: aromatic seed as condiment; medicinally; aromatic rosaries and necklaces.
aromatic seeds powder for condiment in food, flavour resembling nutmeg; inferior perfuming soap; wood, white or greyish, hard, tough, does not split well, easy to work for carpentry, turnery, walking sticks.
BotanyDeciduous tree; huge, lush crown; 10 to 35 metres tall.
Stem: up to 2 metres in diameter.
Pollination: beetles.
Fruit: 20 cm long, 15 cm diameter; white sweet-smelling pulp.