Irvingia

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Malpighiales

Familia: Irvingiaceae
Genus: Irvingia
Species: I. excelsa – I. gabonensis – I. grandifolia – I. malayana – I. robur – I. smithii – I. tenuinucleata
Name

Irvingia Hook.f.
References

USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Irvingia in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Irvingia is a genus of African and Southeast Asian trees in the family Irvingiaceae, sometimes known by the common names wild mango, African mango, bush mango, dika, mbukpap uyo or ogbono. They bear edible mango-like fruits, and are especially valued for their fat- and protein-rich nuts.

The fruit is a large drupe, with fibrous flesh. The subtly aromatic nuts are typically dried in the sun for preservation, and are sold whole or in powder form. They may be ground to a paste known variously as dika bread or Gabon chocolate. Their high content of mucilage enables them to be used as thickening agents for dishes such as ogbono soup. The nuts may also be pressed for vegetable oil.

The trees yield a hard wood, useful in construction.

Irvingia was described as a genus in 1860.[5][3] It is native to Africa and Southeast Asia.[4] The genus is named in honour of Edward George Irving, a Royal Navy surgeon.[6]

Species[4]

Irvingia excelsa - C Africa
Irvingia gabonensis - W + C Africa
Irvingia grandifolia - C Africa
Irvingia malayana - SE Asia
Irvingia robur - W + C Africa
Irvingia smithii - W + C Africa
Irvingia tenuinucleata - W + C Africa

References

"Tropicos". www.tropicos.org.
lectotype designated by Bullock, Kew Bull. 14: 43 (18 May 1960).
"Tropicos". www.tropicos.org.
"World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew". wcsp.science.kew.org.
Hooker, Joseph Dalton. 1860. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 23: 167 descriptions in Latin, commentary in English
D. Gledhill. The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press, 2008.