Detarium microcarpum
| Sweet detar (Detarium microcarpum) | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
| |
| Scientific name | Detarium microcarpum |
| Common names | Sweet detar; sweet dattock; tallow tree |
| Genus | Detarium |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Order | Fabales |
| Growth form | Dry-savanna fruit tree |
| Native range | West and Central Africa |
| Habitat and climate | Wooded savanna and open woodland; shallow stony or lateritic soils; about 600–1000 mm annual rainfall |
| Mature size | Usually up to about 10 m; larger trees occur in moister sites |
| Propagation | Trunk or root shoots; seed, coppice or suckers, rooted cuttings, and grafting are also described |
| Fruit | Yellow, rounded or ovoid indehiscent pods, about 2.5–4.5 cm across, with sweet mealy pulp |
| Harvest | Commonly September–January, with fruiting sometimes extending to May |
Detarium microcarpum is an accepted Fabaceae species with an exact GBIF match at confidence 99.[1] It is known as sweet detar, sweet dattock, and tallow tree.[2] This is a dry-region African fruit tree for warm climates with a pronounced seasonal dry period.
Description[edit | edit source]
The plant is a usually small tree of dry savanna and open woodland in West and Central Africa. It is associated with hills and shallow, stony lateritic soils under roughly 600–1000 mm of annual rainfall.[3] Mature size is environment-dependent: trees are usually up to about 10 m, while larger trees occur in moister settings.[4]
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
In its native habitat, Detarium microcarpum grows on shallow stony or lateritic soils, including hilly sites, within a dry-savanna rainfall regime of about 600–1000 mm per year.[3] As a habitat-based cultivation inference, begin with a freely draining mineral soil and avoid persistently waterlogged conditions. During establishment, keep the root zone from drying completely, then let watering follow active growth and local rainfall rather than maintaining wet soil year-round.
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
The species' wooded-savanna and open-woodland ecology supports an open, sunny position with good airflow. It is reasonable to begin with full sun and seasonal dry air, while protecting young plants from severe desiccation until their root systems are established; this is a habitat-based inference rather than a measured shade or humidity limit.[3] Heat and drought tolerance are associated with its dry-region ecology, but no cold-hardiness value is assigned here.[4]
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
Flowering follows the rainy season, usually July–September and sometimes into November. Fruiting commonly runs from September–January and may extend to May. Leaves are shed around November and new leaves appear around March.[3] In cultivation, expect the main flush of growth and flowering with seasonal rains, and reduce irrigation during the dry interval while avoiding severe stress in young trees.
Propagation[edit | edit source]
Regeneration from trunk or root shoots is documented. Seed, coppice or suckers, rooted cuttings, and grafting are also described, but method choice and performance depend on the material and conditions; no exact scarification, germination, cutting, or grafting schedule is given here.[3][4]
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Flowering is concentrated in the rainy season, generally July–September, with some locations extending into November. Fruits mature from September through January and can remain in the fruiting period into May. These are regional seasonal patterns rather than fixed calendar dates for every planting.[3]
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The fruit is a yellow, rounded or ovoid, indehiscent pod about 2.5–4.5 cm across, with sweet, mealy pulp.[3] It is eaten fresh and can be cooked or milled into flour; prepared products include cakes and couscous, and juice or jam processing is also described.[4]
References[edit | edit source]
Image credits[edit | edit source]
- Bénin-Detarium microcarpum (1).jpg — Creator: Ji-Elle. CC BY-SA 4.0; attribution and share-alike requirements apply. File page: Bénin-Detarium microcarpum (1). Caption: Detarium microcarpum in the Atakora Department of Benin near Kota Falls.
.jpg){kind=link}