Editing Treculia africana (section)

== Cultivation ==

=== Soil and water ===

Native stands grow in riverine forest along streams and in swampy ground of the wet tropical biome.<sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup> The species tolerates a wide range of soils and climates and is recommended for home gardens and intercropping across most tropical and subtropical regions.<sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup> Seedling media trials at Nsukka showed that ricehull-based mixes (1:2:3 and 2:3:1 ricehull:poultry manure:river sand by volume, composted six weeks) gave the highest emergence (up to 57% by week 8 versus 18% in a soil-based 1:2:3 topsoil:poultry manure:river sand mix), the best seedling growth, and the longest turgor under induced water stress; water-holding capacity across the media ran 28–74%, highest in the 2:3:1 ricehull mix.<sup id="cite_ref-8">[[#cite_note-8|[8]]]</sup> In a 12-year field trial at NIHORT Okigwe, budded trees were irrigated by sprinkler for about 3 hours every two days and given 5 kg of animal dung per tree in each of the first two years, with weeding twice yearly.<sup id="cite_ref-9">[[#cite_note-9|[9]]]</sup>

=== Sun and humidity ===

The species is not strongly light-demanding; in the wild it belongs to the shade of wet forest near water, so young plants are raised under partial shade. Nursery work at Nsukka used blue polyethylene shade with watering every two days,<sup>[[#cite_note-8|[8]]]</sup> and the seed-origin trial at Nsukka germinated fresh seed under partial shade in a 2:1:1 topsoil:sawdust:poultry-manure medium.<sup>[[#cite_note-7|[7]]]</sup> Mature trees are comfortable in the humid atmosphere of the wet tropical biome rather than in dry open savanna.<sup>[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

=== Seasonal changes ===

Flowering and fruiting are spread widely through the year in the humid lowlands. Long-running Nigerian observations record flowering almost year-round with a lean period in August–September, fruit maturity about three months after set, a fruiting peak from April to July and a lean fruiting period around November–December.<sup>[[#cite_note-4|[4]]]</sup> A three-year study across five south-eastern Nigerian towns found the species semi-deciduous with two alternating fruiting periods: dry-season flowering and fruit formation from November to late March with fruit drop in February–March, and heavy wet-season flowering in May–June with fruit formation, maturity, ripening and dropping from July to September; the wet-season periods were shorter.<sup id="cite_ref-10">[[#cite_note-10|[10]]]</sup> An earlier regional account placed heavy fruiting from February to August and a light period from September to January.<sup>[[#cite_note-9|[9]]]</sup> Seasonal peaks therefore shift with site, region and year; in cultivation the main crop should be expected in and just after the wet season, with irrigation protecting the out-of-season flush.