| Dialium guineense | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Dialium |
| Species: | D. guineense |
| Binomial name | |
| Dialium guineense | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Dialium guineense, the velvet tamarind, [3] is a tall, tropical, fruit-bearing tree in the family Fabaceae. It has small, typically grape-sized, edible fruits with brown, hard, inedible shells.
Dialium guineense is native to West Africa, from Senegal east to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [1] It grows in dense forests along the southern edge of the Sahel.
The bark and leaves have medicinal properties and are used against several diseases. For example, it is a component of the Nigerian mixture Aju Mbaise, and it helps soothe coughs and toothaches. [4]
Each fruit typically has one hard, flat, round, brown seed, typically 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) across and 3 mm (0.12 in) thick. The seed somewhat resembles a watermelon seed (Citrullus lanatus). Some have two seeds. The seeds are shiny, coated with a thin layer of starch.[ citation needed ]
The pulp is edible and may be eaten raw or soaked in water and consumed as a beverage. The bitter leaves are ingredients in a Ghanaian dish called domoda.[ citation needed ]
Wood is hard and heavy and used for construction. The wood is also used for firewood and charcoal production.[ citation needed ]
Media related to Dialium guineense at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Dialium guineense at Wikispecies