Okoubaka aubrevillei aka Death Tree

Okoubaka aubrevillei is also known as the okoubaka tree. It belongs to the plant family Santalaceae. This tree sheds its leaves. It grows in wet, tropical parts of Africa. Kew lists its native range from Guinea to Ghana, plus Cameroon. Useful Tropical Plants lists a wider range, reaching DR Congo. It grows in forests on rocky hills, often alone. In Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, it can form pure stands too.

The tree has a dense crown. Its branches spread out or droop. Its straight, round trunk can reach 2.6 feet [0.8 metres] across. Sources give heights of about 75–98 feet [23–30 metres]. These figures do not show its usual size in gardens. The accounts give no details of its leaves or flowers. Nor do they state when it blooms. Porcupines eat its fruits and seeds. This limits the growth of new trees in the wild.

Its roots can join nearby plants through parts called haustoria. One account questions whether it acts as a parasite. Another says these links form within six months after seeds sprout. In one study, linked trees gained no early growth boost. Yet their hosts grew less or died more often. This suggests the root links may help remove nearby rivals. These effects matter when choosing a site near other plants.

In seed trials, 60 to 100 percent of seeds sprouted. One planting trial used a different tree species as a host. After ten years, just over half the okoubaka trees still lived. Their mean height was about 14 feet [4.2 metres]. The tallest reached about 28 feet [8.6 metres]. Host trees grew well at first. They then began to die after six years. PFAF lists USDA hardiness zones 10–12. The evidence gives no tested light or water needs for gardens.

People take bark from wild trees for trade as medicine. Markets across coastal West Africa sell it. Traders export it too. Folk uses include skin problems, poisoning, and a fast heartbeat. Reports say the bark acts against microbes and affects immune activity. These reports do not prove home treatments safe or effective. People also use the bark to poison fish. The accounts list no edible uses. People use the wood to build and as fuel. The tree also plays a part in religious rites in southern Nigeria.