Detarium senegalense
Detarium senegalense, Drawing inflorescence and fruit
Detarium senegalense is a species of the genus in the subfamily Detarium the carob plants ( Caesalpinioideae ) within the legume family ( Fabaceae ). It is native in tropical Africa.
The edible fruits of this tree are locally called Ditakh. But the timber of the tree is used, it is known under the name BOIRE.
Description
Detarium senegalense reached as tree growth heights of about 20 to 30 meters. The wood of the Detarium senegalense is copper brown with dark brown veins; it is somewhat similar to the walnut. The leaves are imparipinnate, with about 15 more alternate standing, oval, about 5 × 3 cm large pinnate leaves, which have a translucent ganzrandigen margin.
In 10 to 15 cm long paniculate inflorescences many flowers are borne. The flowers have no petals four-fold, but four white, about 4 mm long sepals.
The rich in vitamin C and also otherwise very nutritious fruit has greenish, very fibrous flesh and is mealy, slightly sour taste. She has an extremely hard core.
Dissemination
This tree species is in tropical Africa, primarily in the western part, at home. The deposits are located in the West in the States Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo; to the east the rich deposits until after the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic and Sudan. In cultivation, the species is now found in Indonesia and Trinidad and Tobago.
Use
Fruit
The fruits of the tree are in the region of Senegambia under the name Ditakh (even with the spelling Ditach, Ditah and Ditax in the Wolof language; Tallo also use the notation Taloo in Mandinka; Boto in Fulfulde; Bungungut in Diola ) are known.
The fruit is eaten fresh or processed in the local cuisine of Senegal and Gambia for a refreshing drink, the juice is designed bright green. The fruits ripen 170 to 200 days and can after picking off the tree one and a half months when stored.
The fruits contain about 1290 mg of vitamin C per 100 g (about half as much as the acerola fruit) and are thus among the vitamin C - rich fruits at all. In addition, they also include B vitamins, calcium, iron, and phosphorus.
Wood
The wood of this tree species is known under the names Boire, Mambode (also Mamboe ) and Bodo known. An English name for the tree is " tallow tree". It is mainly used for cabinet making and for veneers and hardwood flooring. The density of the timber is 0.65 to 0.75 g / cm ³.
System
The first description was by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin; it was published in 1791. A synonym for the species is Detarium heudelotianum Baill .. At times, was also the name Detarium senegalensis instead Detarium senegalense in use.