< Back to the Object

Edit History
Bombacopsis glabra (Pasq.) A. Robyns [family BOMBACACEAE]

Date Updated: 30 April 2005

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol 1
Names
Bombacopsis glabra (Pasq.) A. Robyns [family BOMBACACEAE] Bombax sessile (Benth.) Bakh. [family BOMBACACEAE]
Common names
English English ground-nut; whiteman’s ground-nut (Sierra Leone, Deighton; Savill & Fox). French noyer d’Amérique (in error). SIERRA LEONE: KRIO granat-tri = groundnut tree (FCD; S&F) TEMNE (Port Loko) an-kantr-a-potho (FCD)
Uses
leaf seed Food: general seed Phytochemistry: fatty acids, etc.
Description
A tree to nearly 10 m high introduced from Central America and planted around villages in the West African region. In Zaïre it is said to be able to grow spontaneously on sandy soils in certain localities (3).The young leaves are said to be eaten in Equatorial Africa (Sillans fide 2). The seeds are oily and are eaten in Sierra Leone (1, 4), Liberia (5) and in Zaïre (3), and doubtless elsewhere. In Sierra Leone the seeds are likened to groundnuts, hence the local English and Krio names, English, or Whiteman’s Groundnut. The common French name in Africa, noyer d’Amérique, is misapplied and refers properly to Pachira aquatica Aubl. (Bombacaceae) with similar dietetic use (3).
References
References:1. Deighton 4148, K. 2. Irvine, 1961: 190, as Bombax sessilis (Benth.) Bakh. 3. Robyns, 1963: 199, with reference to the seeds. 4. Savill & Fox, 1967: 55. 5. Voorhoeve, 1965: 65.
Contributor
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)

Date Updated: 30 April 2005

Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol 1
Names
Bombacopsis glabra (Pasq.) A. Robyns [family BOMBACACEAE] Bombax sessile (Benth.) Bakh. [family BOMBACACEAE]
Common names
English English ground-nut; whiteman’s ground-nut (Sierra Leone, Deighton; Savill & Fox). French noyer d’Amérique (in error). SIERRA LEONE: KRIO granat-tri = groundnut tree (FCD; S&F) TEMNE (Port Loko) an-kantr-a-potho (FCD)
Uses
leaf seed Food: general seed Phytochemistry: fatty acids, etc.
Description
A tree to nearly 10 m high introduced from Central America and planted around villages in the West African region. In Zaïre it is said to be able to grow spontaneously on sandy soils in certain localities (3).The young leaves are said to be eaten in Equatorial Africa (Sillans fide 2). The seeds are oily and are eaten in Sierra Leone (1, 4), Liberia (5) and in Zaïre (3), and doubtless elsewhere. In Sierra Leone the seeds are likened to groundnuts, hence the local English and Krio names, English, or Whiteman’s Groundnut. The common French name in Africa, noyer d’Amérique, is misapplied and refers properly to Pachira aquatica Aubl. (Bombacaceae) with similar dietetic use (3).
References
References:1. Deighton 4148, K. 2. Irvine, 1961: 190, as Bombax sessilis (Benth.) Bakh. 3. Robyns, 1963: 199, with reference to the seeds. 4. Savill & Fox, 1967: 55. 5. Voorhoeve, 1965: 65.
Contributor
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Bombacopsis glabra (Pasq.) A. Robyns [family BOMBACACEAE]
PDF

Related Materials