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Pentadesma butyracea Sabine
| Family Name: | Clusiaceae (Guttiferae) |
| Synonyms: | Pentadesma leucantha, Pentadesma kerstingii, Pentadesma grandifolia, Pentadesma nigritiana |
| Common Name: | African Butter Tree, Tallow Tree |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 35 m |
| Tree or Palm – Trunk Diameter | 1 |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | West Africa |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Others - Plant Morphology | Growth Form: Tall, semi-deciduous tree with whorled branches. Habitat: Found in wet forests, swamp forests, riparian forests (located next to rivers) and gallery rainforests (occuring on low-lying ground). This species is becoming increasingly rare in the wild due to overexploitation. Trunk: Straight trunk has brownish, fissured bark. Foliage: Glossy, dark green leaves are elliptic to oblong with entire leaf margin (10 - 22 cm long, 3.5 -7 cm wide). Leaf apex and base are rounded. Leaves contain resin glands that exist as canals in mature leaves, but dots in young leaves. The resin glands appear on the leaf underside and are visible to the naked eye. Flowers: Greenish white or whitish red, 5-lobed flowers produce a pungent aroma that has been likened to that of rancid butter. The aroma may be attractive to pollinating bats. Fruits: Reddish green, ellipsoid berries (15 cm long, 11 cm wide) contain yellow flesh and 3 - 10 flattened seeds. Elephants consume the fruits and help to disperse the seeds in their feces. Landscaping: The large stature of this species makes it an ideal tree for parks as a shade or specimen tree. Cultivation: This species will grow best in fertile, well-drained soil, but it is tolerant of waterlogged soils. Propagation: Propagate by seed. Seeds can be planted while still in the fruit and should be sown in a shady location. About 98% germination rate is achieved within 15 - 60 days of sowing. |
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| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Fruit or Vegetable) (Herb or Spice) Cultural / Religious: Heritage Tree : There is currently one individual of Pentadesma butyracea listed as a Heritage Tree in Singapore. It can be found at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. To find out more about this tree, please visit the Heritage Tree Register. Others: Food: The fruits are edible and the seeds contain an oil which is used to make butter. Medicine: This species is rich in stigmasterol, a plant fat that may lower the risk of ovarian cancer when consumed and reduce inflammation when applied to the skin. Other: Timber harvested from this species is highly valued as construction material, because it is hard and resistant to insect damage. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Drought / Semi-Deciduous |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Glossy / Shiny |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Red, White |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 30223 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 4532 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |