Sacoglottis gabonensis
| Bitter bark tree (Sacoglottis gabonensis) | |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sacoglottis gabonensis |
| Genus | Sacoglottis |
| Family | Humiriaceae |
| Order | Malpighiales |
| Native range | West Tropical Africa to Angola[1] |
| Habitat | Lowland rainforest, freshwater swamp, riversides, and lagoon edges[2][3] |
| Mature size | Up to about 40 m in the native forest[2][3] |
| Fruit | Green to yellow, ellipsoid or globose drupe, about 2.7–4 cm long[4][2] |
Sacoglottis gabonensis is a large evergreen tree of wet tropical Africa, known as bitter bark tree, cherry mahogany, cherry, ozouga, or tala. Its native range extends from West Tropical Africa to Angola, including coastal and inland countries around the Gulf of Guinea.[1] In natural forest it is associated with lowland rainforest, freshwater swamp, riversides, and lagoon margins, and can become an emergent tree.[2][5]
Description[edit | edit source]
The species is a heavy-crowned evergreen tree that may reach about 40 m in its native forest setting.[2][3] The fruit is a drupe, described as green to yellow and ellipsoid or globose, with reported dimensions of roughly 30–40 mm by 25–35 mm in one compiled account; the historical Kew treatment gives a somewhat narrower length range of 27–35 mm.[3][2] These measurements are field descriptions rather than a cultivar standard.
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Soil and water[edit | edit source]
In the wild, Sacoglottis gabonensis grows in lowland rainforest, freshwater swamp, beside rivers, and at lagoon edges.[2][3] A practical starting point is a deep, organic soil with dependable moisture and enough drainage for roots to remain aerated; the wet-site habitat supports moisture-retentive conditions, but does not establish a universal irrigation schedule. A site that dries hard for long periods is a poor match for the ecology described for the species. No species-specific orchard trial establishes an exact substrate, drainage threshold, or watering interval.
Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]
Field work in coastal Gabon describes the tree as an emergent, heliophilic species in a humid tropical landscape.[5] That combination supports a bright, open position with high atmospheric humidity once a plant is established. In a protected collection, provide airflow and avoid treating the shaded forest floor as the mature tree's light requirement; the evidence concerns native forest structure rather than a tested nursery light regime.
Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]
The native range includes strongly seasonal wet tropical sites. At Petit Loango, Gabon, the study site received 2363 mm of annual rain in 1998 and had six consecutive months below 70 mm; fruiting observations there included a July–September peak, while another Gabon site showed a September–November peak.[5] A Cameroon study found a long fruiting duration with low synchrony in littoral evergreen forest, but its nine-month sampling missed a minor rainy season.[4] These are site-specific patterns, not a fixed calendar for cultivation. In a managed planting, reduce drought stress through the dry season and expect flowering or fruiting timing to vary with local rainfall and plant age.
Propagation[edit | edit source]
A compiled species account gives a two- to four-month germination period and describes the rate as quite low.[3] Treat this as a qualified starting point rather than a controlled propagation protocol: the account does not supply a tested substrate, temperature, seed provenance, viability period, or percentage germination. Use a long observation window and do not discard a sowing early merely because emergence is slow. A controlled species-specific trial is still needed before recommending a precise seed treatment or schedule.
Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]
Fruit availability varies between sites and seasons. In the Gabon field study, monitored trees and fallen fruit showed a July–September fruiting peak at Petit Loango and a September–November peak at Lope.[5] In littoral forest in southwestern Cameroon, S. gabonensis had the longest fruiting duration among the species examined and low fruiting synchrony during the study period.[4] These observations indicate prolonged or uneven fruiting in particular forests, but they do not provide a bearing age, yield expectation, or pollination method for cultivated trees. Harvest the drupe when its color and texture show the desired maturity; the available species accounts do not define a validated commercial maturity index.
Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]
The fruit is described as having a sweet edible exocarp, and compiled accounts describe it as eaten raw; a fermented drink called stouton is also reported.[2][3] The same historical treatment reports edible seeds.[2] These are traditional or compiled food-use records, not a modern food-safety assessment. Do not assume that raw fruit, seeds, fermented preparations, or material from an unfamiliar provenance are safe without locally appropriate identification and food-safety advice.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ [2] Sacoglottis gabonensis (family Humiriaceae) on JSTOR, Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew entry for Burkill, The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa, volume 2 (1985).
- ↑ [4] Does fruiting phenology vary with fruit syndrome? An investigation on animal-dispersed tree species in an evergreen forest in south-western Cameroon. Journal of Vegetation Science.
- ↑ [5] Sacoglottis gabonensis – a keystone fruit for forest elephants in the Réserve de Faune du Petit Loango, Gabon. Morgan, B. J. (2007), African Journal of Ecology 47:154–163.