Ricinodendron heudelotii aka African Nut Tree

Ricinodendron heudelotii grows fast and sheds its leaves. It is a tree in the Euphorbiaceae family. It comes from tropical Africa, from Senegal east to Sudan and Kenya. Its range reaches south to Angola and Mozambique. It grows at forest edges and in woods that shed their leaves. It also grows in forests that regrow after clearing. Other sites include wooded savannah and farmland no longer in use.

The tree has an open, round crown and spreading branches. Published sizes give about 131 feet [40 metres] in height. They give a width of about 82 feet [25 metres]. Useful Tropical Plants also lists heights of 164 feet [50 metres]. The straight, round trunk can reach 3.9 feet [1.2 metres] across. Short buttresses, or supports, grow at its base. These may extend into large roots at the soil surface. Leaves grow in turn along the stems, not in pairs. Each leaf has three to five leaflets.

Male and female flowers grow on separate trees. This means a tree cannot fertilise itself. In open, sunny sites, trees bear fruit after seven to ten years. The black fruit is a drupe with two or three lobes. Each holds two or three round seeds. Fruit length is about 0.08–0.10 feet [0.025–0.030 metres]. Its width reaches about 0.13–0.16 feet [0.040–0.050 metres]. People gather fallen fruit to get the seeds.

This tropical tree grows best in full sun and moist soil. It prefers soil of medium texture that drains well. Its preferred soil pH is 5.5–6.5, though it tolerates 5–7. It grows best at 20–30°C. The sources give a wider range it can bear: 14–34°C. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 10–12. Seeds have hard coats. Scarification, which breaks the coat, can help seeds sprout. Treated seeds may start to sprout within three to six weeks. Large cuttings also root with ease.

People grow this tree for food, shade, and other useful products. Farmers keep or plant it among cocoa, coffee, and bananas. Its roots draw from deep soil. This leaves less need to compete near the surface. It also serves as a roadside tree and a pioneer species. People boil or roast the kernels, or grind them into paste. They also cook the leaves as a vegetable. Seeds supply food and income. Some places use them when food is scarce. People use bark in several forms of folk medicine. These reports do not prove those treatments are safe. The sources list no known general hazards. Yet Plants For A Future reports small amounts of toxic substances in seeds. Thus, not all seed products can be called safe.