47.214.193.24: Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance

2026-09-30T17:31:43Z

Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance

New page

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 320px; margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Pachylobus buettneri
|-
! Scientific name
| ''Pachylobus buettneri'' [[#cite_note-1|[1]]]
|-
! Family
| [[Burseraceae]] [[#cite_note-1|[1]]]
|-
! Order
| [[Sapindales]] [[#cite_note-1|[1]]]
|-
! Genus
| ''[[Pachylobus]]'' [[#cite_note-1|[1]]]
|-
! Habit
| Evergreen tree, usually 15–25 m; recorded to 50 m [[#cite_note-2|[2]]]
|-
! Native range
| West and Central Africa [[#cite_note-2|[2]]]
|-
! Fruit
| Smaller than ''Dacryodes edulis''; oil-rich pulp used after boiling-water soaking [[#cite_note-2|[2]]]
|}

'''Pachylobus buettneri''' is an evergreen West and Central African tree in the Burseraceae. It is also treated under the name ''Dacryodes buettneri'', and is occasionally cultivated in home gardens. [[#cite_note-1|[1]]][[#cite_note-2|[2]]] The fruits are reported from local markets, with an oil-rich pulp that is prepared by soaking the fruit in boiling water before eating. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]]

== Description ==

The tree is usually described as 15–25 m tall, with records to 50 m. It occurs in old secondary forest and clearings on well-drained soils, at elevations up to about 670 m. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] ''Dacryodes buettneri'' is the principal synonym used in practical plant references; ''Canarium buettneri'', ''Dacryodes fraxinifolia'' and ''Pachylobus ezigo'' are also listed names. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]]

In Gabon, the species is listed among priority food trees for human use. [[#cite_note-3|[3]]]

== Cultivation ==

=== Soil and water ===

The practical account places the species in moist lowland tropics and on well-drained, often clayey soils, with mean annual rainfall of about 2,000–3,000 mm. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] A garden planting should therefore have a deep root zone that holds moisture without prolonged saturation. Maintain moisture through a pronounced local dry season, while using drainage and raised planting where heavy rains leave the soil wet; the rainfall figure is habitat and account-level guidance, not a tested irrigation limit.

A mixed-planting record from Gabon reports 30–70% survival after three years. That observation concerns forestry establishment rather than fruit-tree yield, so it should not be used as a production forecast. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]]

=== Sun and humidity ===

Young seedlings are described as tolerating dense shade, while older plants need more light and are associated with sunny conditions. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] Begin newly established plants in sheltered filtered light, then increase exposure as they develop; a mature specimen needs enough light for canopy growth but remains a moist-tropical tree rather than a dry-site species.

=== Seasonal changes ===

The species' lowland setting and reported 2,000–3,000 mm rainfall range indicate a wet-tropical growth pattern. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] In cultivation, keep the root zone more evenly supplied during the local dry season and give priority to drainage during the wet season. Mass fruiting is reported approximately every three years; treat that as an approximate bearing pattern rather than a universal interval. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]]

== Propagation ==

Propagation is described from ripe seed sown promptly. Germination is reported in about 30–37 days. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] Treat fresh seed as time-sensitive and avoid delaying sowing after fruit collection. Seedlings can tolerate low light during early establishment but need more light as they grow. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]]

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==

The species is described as dioecious and insect-pollinated, so fruit and seed production require access to both male and female trees. Fruit abortion is reported as common, and mass fruiting is described as occurring approximately every three years. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] Treat the interval as an approximate bearing pattern rather than a universal schedule.

The fruits are described as smaller than those of ''Dacryodes edulis'' and are sometimes sold in local markets. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] Harvest fruit at the ripe stage used for preparation.

== Fruit and uses ==

The pulp is described as oil-rich and edible after the fruit is soaked in boiling water for about one minute. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]] This is a reported preparation practice, not a validated food-safety protocol. The fruit's market use and occasional home-garden cultivation place it among locally useful food trees in its native region. [[#cite_note-2|[2]]][[#cite_note-3|[3]]]

== References ==

* [[#cite_ref-1|↑]] '''[1]''' [https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Pachylobus%20buettneri GBIF species match: Pachylobus buettneri].

* [[#cite_ref-2|↑]] '''[2]''' [https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Pachylobus+buettneri ''Dacryodes buettneri'' | Useful Tropical Plants].

* [[#cite_ref-3|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20083163228 Gabon report record | CABI Digital Library].

[[Category:Pachylobus]]

Pachylobus buettneri - Revision history

47.214.193.24: Wikifruit: independently reviewed article maintenance