Vitellaria paradoxa

Vitellaria paradoxa

Scientific name	Vitellaria paradoxa[1]
Common names	Shea tree, shea butter tree, sheanut tree, karité[2]
Family	Sapotaceae[1]
Order	Ericales[1]
Genus	Vitellaria[1]
Mature height	Typically 7–15 m; exceptional trees may reach about 25 m[2][3]
Years to fruit	About 15–20 years in the agroforestry reference[2]

Vitellaria paradoxa tree in Pendjari National Park, Benin

Vitellaria paradoxa is a large, slow-growing deciduous tree of the African savanna, cultivated for its edible fruit pulp and oil-rich seed. It is commonly called the shea tree or shea butter tree. The species is associated with open parkland savanna and a pronounced dry season rather than permanently wet ground.^[2][3]

Description

The tree commonly reaches 7–15 m, with exceptional individuals reported to about 25 m. It is deciduous, and its fruit is a yellow-green berry about 5–8 cm long, usually containing one seed. The seed is the source of shea butter.^[2][3]

The species develops a taproot reported to about 1–2 m, together with shallow lateral roots that spread widely. Slow early growth makes weed competition, fire and browsing important establishment hazards in managed plantings.^[2][3]

Cultivation

Soil and water

In its native parkland setting, shea grows on dry sandy-clay soils, including sandy, stony and lateritic ground, with organic matter where available. For cultivation, use a deep, well-drained soil with organic cover and avoid swampy, persistently flooded or heavy wet sites. The deep taproot and wide shallow laterals make undisturbed rooting volume valuable; protect young trees from competing weeds while they establish.^[2][3]

Sun and humidity

Open savanna is the useful habitat model: plant in full sun where possible, although light shade is tolerated. Keep foliage well ventilated rather than reproducing a closed, stagnant canopy. The species occurs across seasonal savanna climates, with the agroforestry reference giving roughly 600–1,400 mm annual rainfall and 24–32 °C mean annual temperature as a broad native range.^[2][3]

Seasonal changes

The tree sheds its leaves during the dry season. Flowering is also associated with the dry season and lasts about 30–75 days; fruit then develops over roughly 4–6 months. In cultivation, give establishing trees reliable moisture during active growth while allowing the root zone to drain freely, and reduce irrigation rather than keeping the soil saturated during the dry-season rhythm.^[2][3]

Propagation

Seed is recalcitrant: it should not be dried or stored casually, and fresh seed should be sown promptly. The retrieved propagation guidance reports about 90–97% germination from fresh seed at 25–30 °C when sown 1–5 cm deep. Seedlings can be raised in containers and transplanted after 1–2 years, taking care not to damage the taproot or the spreading lateral roots.^[3]

Experimental grafting and marcotting have been reported as ways to shorten the long juvenile period, but latex interference makes these techniques difficult and their results should not be treated as a dependable commercial schedule.^[3]

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

The flowers are hermaphroditic and chiefly insect-pollinated; bees are important pollinators. Flowering lasts approximately 30–75 days, followed by a fruit-development period of about 4–6 months. In agroforestry plantings, first fruiting is reported at about 15–20 years, with substantial variation expected from provenance, propagation method, climate and establishment conditions.^[2]

The fruit is yellow-green and about 5–8 cm long, normally with one seed. These dimensions and the long development period are useful identification and planning features, but they do not establish a single harvest date for every climate or tree.^[2]

Fruit and uses

The ripe fruit pulp is edible. The seed is processed for shea butter, an important traditional and commercial plant oil. Food preparation should use sound, properly identified fruit and ordinary hygienic handling; the processing use of the seed does not by itself establish medicinal effects.^[2][3]

Photos

References

• ↑ [1] GBIF Species Match: Vitellaria paradoxa.

• ↑ [2] Agroforestry Database 4.0: Vitellaria paradoxa (Orwa et al., 2009).

• ↑ [3] Vitellaria paradoxa - Useful Tropical Plants.

Image credits

• Parc national de la Pendjari-Vitellaria paradoxa (1).jpg — whole Vitellaria paradoxa tree in Pendjari National Park, Benin; Ji-Elle, own work; CC BY-SA 4.0; file page.

• Parc national de la Pendjari-Vitellaria paradoxa (2).jpg — Vitellaria paradoxa tree in Pendjari National Park, Benin; Ji-Elle, own work; CC BY-SA 4.0; file page.

• Vitellaria paradoxa distribution.png — distribution map for Vitellaria paradoxa; Esculapio (file history records the original author as tato grasso); CC BY-SA 2.5; file page.