Classification of this genus is in need of revision.

Common Name: Buttertree

General Information

Buttertree is an evergreen tree growing up to 35 metres tall. The cylindrical bole can be 100 - 150cm in diameter, sometimes with small buttresses or stilt roots[, ].
A multipurpose tree, it is commonly used locally as a source of food, medicines and other commodities.

Known Hazards

The bark is used as a fish-poison[].

Botanical References

Range

West tropical Africa - Guinea-Bissau to Cameroon, south to Gabon, Congo and western DR Congo.

Habitat

Rain forest on moist or swampy ground, mostly on river banks; at elevations up to 800 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Monkeys
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of lowland moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 800 metres[]. It does not occur in areas where the mean annual rainfall is less than 1,000mm[].
Prefers a deep soil[]. Often found growing wild in leached soils[].
Under plantation conditions trees have grown to a height of 9 metre in 10 years[].
Trees first flower when about 8 metres tall. Flowering occurs during a large part of the year, but mainly during the main rainy season[].
The flowers produce large amounts of nectar, which is eaten by monkeys; they are probably important pollinators[].
The tree suckers freely from stumps[].

Edible Uses

An edible fat is obtained from the seeds[]. Air-dried seeds contain 32 - 42% of a solid fat which can be extracted by pounding and cooking. It varies from pale to dark brown, is almost tasteless and has a pleasant smell[]. It is edible and resembles to some extent shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa), and has the advantage of being free from any bitter latex, and it does not turn rancid[]. It is used for cooking and for making margarine[]. The fat contains 53.6% oleic acid, 45.2% stearic acid, 1.2% palmitic acid, with an assortment of ammo acids[]

The seeds are said to be edible before they are fully ripe, but to become very bitter, or sour, when mature[, ]. When fully ripe they are sometimes used as an adulterant of cola nuts (Cola spp.)[, ]. Cola nuts contain caffeine and are chewed or made into drinks for use as a stimulant[].

The sweet, yellow pulp of ripe fruits is edible, but unripe fruits are bitter[]. The fruit is said to be edible when immature but becomes too hard by the time it is fully ripe[]. The fruits are broadly ovoid, 15cm long by 10cm across[]. Each bears 3 - 10 or more seeds in a yellowish pulp. A copious yellow thick juice, similar to the exudate from the bark, is exuded when the fruit is cut[].

Leaves - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The leaves are used particularly by nursing mothers because they are said to increase milk production[].

Medicinal

The bark is said to be aphrodisiac, purgative and vermifuge[, ]. A decoction is used for this purgative effect[]. The bark is used to treat diarrhoea and dysentery[].
An infusion of the bark is used as a wash to treat fevers[].
A macerate of the bark is used as a treatment against cutaneous parasites[].
The latex from the bark is applied to the skin as a treatment against skin parasites[].
Traces of flavonins, saponins, tannins, steroids and terpenes have been reported in the bark and roots of Congo material[].

A root-decoction is used as a vermifuge[].
An infusion of the powdered roots is used to wash children during weaning[]

The fat obtained from the seeds is a suitable base for topical medicines[]. Its application relieves chest-pain, cough in children, strain and abscesses[]

The leaves are eaten by nursing mothers as a vegetable that is said to increase milk flow, make the milk more easily digestible and also help in teething[].The leaves, after roasting and crushing, are given to children to relieve constipation[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is considered suitable for reforestation purposes[]. It is planted in soil conservation schemes[].

Other Uses

A fat obtained from the seed is used for making soaps, candles etc[, , ]. The oil from the seed is made into unguent for the skin and hair; it is also applied to kill lice, jiggers, etc[, ].

The bark contains a yellow, resinous latex which is more abundant towards the inner side. It dries to an orange-red colour[].

The roots are used Liberia as chew-sticks[, ].
The young stems are used as chewing sticks[].

The heartwood is yellowish, reddish or pinkish brown; it is distinctly demarcated from the fairly wide band of whitish to pale pink sapwood. The grain is straight to slightly wavy; texture coarse. The wood is heavy, hard, strong, but not durable, being susceptible to attack by pinhole borers and marine borers, although it is fairly resistant to termites. It air dries slowly with little splitting, but cupping may occur[, ]. The wood is easy to work; it saws satisfactorily, but may cause gumming of saw blades and overheating; it planes, polishes and moulds well and bores satisfactorily, although heating may occur; it holds nails well, but splitting on nailing is rather common; it can finish to an attractive appearance[, ]. The timber appears to be of limited economic importance. It is sawn into planks and used in rough construction-work and for making canoes. It is also suitable for heavy construction, heavy flooring, railway sleepers, ship and boat building, vehicle bodies, boxes and crates, veneer and plywood, interior trim, furniture and cabinet work, joinery and turnery, sporting goods, implements and toys[, ].
The wood is used generally as a fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed - they germinate rapidly within the fruit; therefore fruit removal before sowing is not required[]. Fresh seeds germinate well under shade at ambient conditions. Germination starts after about 15 days and reaches 98% two months after sowing. Germinated seeds grow into normal seedlings in nurseries, reaching 10 - 28cm high after 4 months[]
Fresh seeds that are conserved in moist jute bags maintain 100% viability after 1 month. However, when using polyethylene bags, only 15% germinate. Drying does not improve germination; dried seeds stored for two months in ambient conditions germinated to 14% within three months[].

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