African walnut  (Lovoa trichilioides)

Description

This tall African forest tree is an important source of timber. The straight trunk is covered with smooth dark bark that becomes rougher with age (3), and the first branches appear at a height of 15 to 20 metres (2). A cut into the trunk reveals red wood with white streaks and releases a sweet scent and sticky sap (2) (3). The leaves of the African walnut are slightly folded and comprise four to six smaller parts, or ‘leaflets’ (2) (3), and, depending on the time of year, the tree is also adorned with numerous, small greenish-white to white flowers that grow in large, loose clusters. Bunches of black woody, cigar-shaped fruit open to release four to eight winged-seeds (2).

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