Edible Plants of the World

Camel's foot leaf tree

A tropical plant. It grows in clay depressions and sandy loamy soil. It grows in the Sahel. It grows in areas with a rainfall between 200-1,000 mm per year. It can grow from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. It grows in savannah woodland. It can grow in arid places.

Also known as:

Bagen gnanga, Banguin-gu, Barque, Canna, Epamambo, Fara, Kalgo, Kossey, N'toncre, Nama tene, Pouunque, Untoncre

Synonyms

Edible Portion

Where does Camel's foot leaf tree grow?

Found in: Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Senegal, Sudan, West Africa

Notes: Also as Caesalpinaceae.

Growing Camel's foot leaf tree

Cultivation: Plants can be grown from seed. The seeds germinate poorly and this can be improved by soaking them in hot water overnight. Seedlings can be transplanted 5-7 weeks after sowing.

Edible Uses: The leaves are used for drinks. They are also used to flavour porridge. They are acidic. They are also dried. The fruit are used for drinks. The young pods are pounded and boiled. The bark and sap are used to purify water. They help coagulate cloudy matter in the water.

Production: It grows slowly. It flowers in the dry season.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part Energy (kcal) Protein (g) Iron (mg) Vitamin A (ug) Vitamin c (mg) Zinc (mg) % Water
Leaves 66 4.8 - - - - 78.3
Pods - - - - - -

References

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Ayantunde, A. A., et al, 2009, Uses of Local Plant Species by Agropastoralists in South-western Niger. Ethnobotany Research and Applications. Vol. 7: 53-66

Belem, B., et al, 2007, Use of Non Wood Forest Products by local people bordering the “Parc National Kaboré Tambi”, Burkina Faso. The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies vol. 6, no. 1 p 9

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Bernholt, H. et al, 2009, Plant species richness and diversity in urban and peri-urban gardens of Niamey, Niger. Agroforestry Systems 77:159-179

Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3. Kew.

Dalziel, J. M., 1937, The Useful plants of west tropical Africa. Crown Agents for the Colonies London.

Dansi, A., et al, 2008, Traditional leafy vegetables and their use in the Benin Republic. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2008) 55:1239–1256

Flora 29:598. 1846

Food Composition Tables for use in Africa FAO http://www.fao.org/infoods/directory No. 523

Gallagher, D. E., 2010, Farming beyond the escarpment: Society, Environment, and Mobility in Precolonial Southeastern Burkina Faso. PhD University of Michigan.

Guinko, S. & Pasgo, L. J., Harvesting and marketing of edible products from local woody species in Zitenga, Burkina Faso. Unasylva - No. 168

Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 28, 95, 155

Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 198 (As Bauhinia reticulata)

Prodr. 2:515. 1825 (As Bauhinia reticulata)

Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 123

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 21st April 2011]

Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 29 (As Bauhinia reticulata)

Zika, A., et al, 2015, Traditional plant use in Burkina Faso (West Africa): a national-scale analysis with focus on traditional medicine. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2015, 11:9