Poga oleosa
Conservation status:
Common
Diagnostic description:
Large forest tree, reaching 45 m in height and up to 1.7 m dbh, crown spreading. Flowers bisexual, fruits large about 5 cm diameter, rounded, green when ripe, mesocarp firm, nut very hard with up to 4 oily seeds. Fruits dispersed by elephants and probably by other mammals as well.
Global Distribution:
Limited to the coastal rainforests of Lower Guinea from SE Nigeria to Congo, and to the western part of the Congo Basin.
Uses:
Exploited for timber ("ovoga", wood light, dry density 0.4-0.5), vegetable oil extracted from seeds, protected by farmers.