Parinari excelsa

Parinari excelsa, the Guinea plum, is a species of large, evergreen tree in the family Chrysobalanaceae. It has a very wide distribution in tropical Africa and the Americas. This species grows to 50 m (160 ft) tall while the trunk is up to 1.5 m (5 ft) in diameter.

Description

A large evergreen tree. It grows to 50 m high. The trunk is 1.5 m across. It has buttresses. The branches have a cottony covering. The leaves are alternate and simple. They are 5-10 cm long by 2.5-5 cm wide. The flowers are pink and white. They have a sweet smell. Fruit are oval and 6 cm long by 4 cm wide. They are red-brown and have a warty surface. This is hard and woody. There are 1-2 seeds per stone.

Edible Uses

The unripe fruit are eaten after extended preparation, while ripe fruit can be consumed fresh, dried and boiled with peanut sauce, or fermented. The kernel is roasted and mixed into other foods, and the bark is roasted to flavor palm wine.

Traditional Uses

The unripe fruit are eaten after long preparation. The ripe fruit can be eaten or cut up and dried and boiled with peanut sauce. They are also fermented. The kernel is roasted and then mixed with other foods. The bark is roasted and used to flavour palm wine.

Medicinal Uses

A decoction of the bark is used in the treatment of anaemia and is used as a tonic by pregnant women. Either alone, or combined with other medicinal plants, it is taken in decoction as a treatment against diarrhoea, stomach ache and other stomach-disorders. Combined with earth from the fungus-nursery in a termite nest, it is taken as a treatment for hookworm, and is also used in a treatment of insanity. Used externally, it is pounded, macerated and chewed then applied as a cicatrizant to fresh wounds, especially in circumcision. Analysis of material from the Congo showed a trace of flavones in the stem-bark, and an abundance in the roots, plus plenty of tannin in both, but no other active principal. A root-macerate is taken internally as a treatment for migraine and stomach-pains, and for female sterility. Externally, it is used as a haemostatic and cicatrizant. Root-decoctions are prepared for washes, baths, massages and fumigations in tiredness, fevers and chest-pains and rheumatism. Steam from a boiling decoction of leafy twigs is considered to soothe gingivitis, stomatitis and toothache. An infusion of the fruit is taken as a drink in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Africa. It grows in forest and along river banks. It can be in savannah or palm groves. It grows from the lowlands to 1,000 m altitude in West Africa. In East Africa it grows to 2,400 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Africa, Amazon, Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Colombia, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, Suriname, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela, West Africa, Zambia,

Cultivation

Trees are grown from seed.

Other Uses

Both the wood-ash and the bark-ash contain tannin. The endocarp is filled with a loose cottony wool surrounding the kernel. This is used as a fire-tinder. The seed shell and pulp of the fruit yield a dye. A drying oil can be obtained from the seed. The sapwood is creamy-white and not clearly demarcated from the brown heartwood. The wood is hard, heavy, very strong and tough. It sinks when fresh. It is a timber of secondary importance and logging is now not commonly carried out, though it has been traded as sugué from Ivory Coast for shipment to Europe as a substitute for oak. The timber is difficult to work. It is so full of silica that saws blunt rapidly. It is best sawn whilst still green and with special saws. Yet it finds use locally and has potential. It is cut into planks and timbers and made into furniture. If exposed to weathering it is not durable and may be attacked by borers, though if protected it is good for house-timbers. If pressure-treated with preservative, it is excellent for railway sleepers. It is used for cabinet making, joinery, construction, furniture, tool handles and domestic utensils. The wood is also used for firewood and yields a good charcoal. The tree is used for shade in coffee and cinchona plantations.

Production

In Tanzania fruit are collected from August to March. In Sierra Leone fruit are between June and December.

Other Information

Fruit are sold in markets. The fruit are especially eaten by children. It is considered an important fruit tree.

Notes

There are about 50 Parinari species. They grow in the tropics.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Aiamoradan, Am-bis, Asila akoung, Atchaguesse, Bal-le, Banga, Bionai, Bitchalam, Bokohoton, Bu fujay, Bussol, Bu wel, Cura, Curanaco, Esagko, Foungouti, Grey plum, Guari, Ijakere, Inyi, Jaraguacaba, Kankenom, Kein, Koa, Koin, Kola, Kpar, Kure, Kwalo, Lut, Machende a nguluwe, Makara-yek, Mampara, Mampata, Mampatace, Mampatas, Mampataz, Mampato, Mantchoul, Mbula, Meile, Merecurillo, Mgama, Mganda, Minquela, Minquelma, Mkanjula, Msaula, Mubura, Mulanga, Mulatana, Mupundu wa muhulu, Muula, Naudi, N'djano, N'tchalame, Ndawa, Ndawei, Nguluwe, Nheg-cuneme, Pile, Quein, Roffin-plom, Rosenkwarie, Suge, Uchirana, Uchi de tambagui, Uguene, Ukenom, Undiano, Wokere besoerie

References (48)

• Aniama, S. O., et al, 2016, Ethnobotanical documentaton of some plants among Igala people of Kogi State (Nigeria). The International Journal Of Engineering And Science (IJES). 5(4) pp 33-42
• Atato, A., et al, 2010, Diversity of Edible Wild Fruit Tree Species of Togo. Global Science Books.
• Awodoyin, R.O., Olubode, O.S., Ogbu, J.U., Balogun, R.B., Nwawuisi, J.U. and Orji, K.O., 2015, Indigenous Fruit Trees of Tropical Africa: Status, Opportunity for Development and Biodiversity Management. Agricultural Sciences, 6, 31-41
• Bojang, L., 1999, Non-wood Forest Products in The Gambia. EC-FAO Partnership Programme.
• Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 1. Kew.

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