Manketti nut, Zambezi almond, African oil-nut-tree

Ricinodendron heudelotii

Physical Characteristics

Ricinodendron heudelotii is a deciduous Tree growing to 40 m (131ft) by 25 m (82ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Tropical Africa - Senegal to Sudan and Kenya, south to Angola and Mozambique.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Oil Seed Edible Uses: Oil Salt Seed - cooked[332 ]. Although edible, they are not everywhere valued as food[332 ]. The kernels are eaten boiled in water or in sauce, or mixed with fish, meat and other vegetables[332 ]. They can be roasted and made into a paste, which can be stored and used for making porridge in times of food shortage[299 , 332 ]. In many areas the seeds are regarded as a famine food, for use when other foods are not available[398 ]. The black fruit is a 2 - 3-lobed drupe 25 - 30mm long and 40 - 50mm wide, containing 2 - 3, globose seeds around 15mm in diameter[299 ]. Fallen fruits are collected from the ground. After collection, the fruits are left to rot in big piles. Once the fruit pulp is rotten, the stones are extracted by washing and boiling the fruits vigorously. Then the stones are removed from the hot water, put in cold water and left overnight. They are boiled vigorously once more until the shells crack. Shells are then removed using a knife. After extraction, the seeds are dried[299 ]. The seed contains about 47% by weight of a light yellow oil with a sweet taste[301 , 332 ]. The seeds are pounded, boiled in water and then allowed to cool. The floating oil is skimmed off, boiled then filtered and used for cooking[398 ]. The oil consists of the following fatty acids: eleostearic 44%; oleic 16%; plus 10% each of palmitic; stearic; linoleic; and linolenic[332 ]. Leaves - cooked and eaten as a protein-rich vegetable[299 ]. The ash of the wood is used as vegetable salt in cooking[299 ].

Medicinal Uses

Antidiarrhoeal Antidote Antifungal Antirheumatic Antitussive Aphrodisiac Dysentery Febrifuge Laxative Ophthalmic The stem-bark is taken by enema to prevent abortion[332 ]. A decoction of the stem bark is used externally to wash and cicatrize sores[332 ]. A decoction of the root bark is considered a powerful anti-dysenteric[332 ]. The root bark is ground up into a powder then mixed with pepper and salt and used for treating constipation[332 ]. A decoction of the bark is used in the treatment of blennorrhoea, cough, painful menstruation and as an antidote to poison[332 ]. A bark-liquor is taken by pregnant women to relieve pains and to prevent miscarriage. It is also taken by women 'to kill a worm which is in the bowels and which prevents them from breeding'[332 ]. Externally, the bark is used in lotions and baths to strengthen rachitic children and premature babies, and to relieve rheumatism and oedemas[332 ]. The pulped bark (also the leaves) is applied externally to treat fungal infections, to maturate abscesses, furuncles and buboes[332 ]. The bark is beaten and warmed, then tied to the body in the treatment of elephantiasis[332 ]. The expressed sap is instilled to the eye in the treatment of filaria and ophthalmia[332 ]. The leaves are used to treat dysentery, female sterility, oedemas, and stomach-pains[332 ]. A leaf decoction is taken by draught and in baths as a febrifuge[332 ]. The roots in Ivory Coast are considered aphrodisiac[332 ]. Examination of various sources of the bark have found no active principles[332 ]. Leaves and stems have been reported to contain an unnamed alkaloid. The traditional use of the seed, husk and latex as a remedy for gonorrhoea and diarrhoea may rest on the action of a resin found in the seed, as also the use for treating amoebic dysentery[332 ].

Known Hazards

None known