Allanblackia floribunda aka Tallow Tree

Allanblackia floribunda is an evergreen tree in the Clusiaceae family. Its common names include vegetable tallow and tallow tree. It comes from the wetter parts of tropical Africa. Its range runs from Togo to eastern DR Congo, south to Congo. It grows beneath taller trees in lowland rainforests and riverside woods. It also occurs in swamp forest and areas of forest regrowth.

In cultivation, it reaches about 82 feet (25 metres) tall. Its spread can reach about 66 feet (20 metres). Another account gives an upper height of 98 feet (30 metres). It grows fast and keeps its leaves year-round. The trunk is fairly short, straight, and round in section. Its base may thicken, but it lacks buttress roots. The inner bark yields a sticky yellow resin. The heartwood ranges from pale red to brown.

Wild trees begin to flower at about twelve years old. They can flower through much of the year. Insects pollinate the flowers, and trees are not self-fertile. Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. Both sexes must grow nearby for fruit and seed production. Fruits need almost a year to ripen. Ripe fruit may occur through much of the year. Growers collect fallen fruit because ripeness is hard to judge on trees.

This tree needs the warmth and moisture of the tropics. PFAF places it in USDA zones 10–12. It grows best in sun but can take light shade. It prefers moist soil with good drainage. Sandy, loamy, and clay soils can all suit it. It accepts acid to neutral soil, including very acid ground. Its preferred annual rainfall is 1,200–2,400 millimetres. Seeds germinate poorly and may take six to eighteen months. Seed-coat treatments bring only small gains in germination.

Farmers retain these trees to shade cocoa crops. The seeds provide an edible fat used in cooking. This fat stays solid at room temperature and suits margarine production. PFAF also lists the fruit as edible. Seed oil has uses in soap and cosmetics. People use small twigs as toothpicks or chewing sticks. Local medicine uses bark for pain and gut complaints. Bark and leaves also feature in remedies for coughs and asthma. These records describe traditional uses, not proof of safe treatment. The sources list no known hazards but provide no detailed safety assessment.