Berlinia grandiflora

(Vahl) Hutch. & Dalziel

FabaceaeSeeds/NutsPotential hazards — see below

iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Marco Schmidt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Seeds - flavouring

The processed seeds are used as a condiment for flavouring.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant.

Africa, Nigeria, West Africa,

Countries: Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Benin, Botswana, Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Congo (Republic), Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Comoros, Liberia, Lesotho, Libya, Morocco, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sao Tome & Principe, Eswatini, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How to Identify

A tropical tree in the Fabaceae (legume) family.

How to Grow

A plant of the moister lowland tropics. Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Medicinal Uses

Bark extracts are used as part of a purgative regimen in some communities of the Democratic republic of the Congo and leaves are part of a decoction to treat intestinal ailments. Wood is used in carpentry work.

Other Uses

The heartwood is pinkish-brown with purple or dark brown veins and frequent resin canals; it is clearly demarcated from the 10 - 15cm wide band of sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight or interlocked. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately hard, moderately durable, being moderately resistant to fungi and termites and resistant to dry wood borers. It seasons somewhat slowly with only a slight risk of distortion or checking; once dry it is poorly to moderately stable in service. It works well with normal tools; nailing and screwing are good, but pre-boring is required; gluing is correct. The wood has many applications, including for interior and exterior panelling and joinery, cabinet making, furniture, light carpentry, turnery, flooring, drums and veneer. Berlinia wood is, in general, similar to white oak (Quercus alba) in durability, density and usefulness. It is an attractive, decorative hardwood that can be used for fine, interior joinery. The plant is sometimes grown to provide shade in coffee plantations.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

Berlinia grandiflora is a small to medium sized tree found in the West and West Central African region along riparian habitats or gallery forests habitat types.

Names & Synonyms

Ten

Berlinia acuminata var. heudelotiana (Baill.) Oliv.Berlinia heudelotiana Baill.Berlinia laurentii De Wild.Westia grandiflora Vahl

References (1)

Alyegba, S. S. et al, 2013, Ethnobotanical Survey of Edible Wild Plants in Tiv Communities of Benue State, Nigeria. Journal of Natural Sciences Research. Vol.3, No.7