Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr.

A small tree. It grows to 10 m high. The trunk is straight. It is 30 cm across. The roots extend sideways. The leaves are compound with 3-4 pairs of leaflets and a leaflet at the end. The leaves are 14-20 cm long and the leaflets are 7-11 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. The flowers are in groups. They contain both sexes and have a scent. The fruit is an oval pod. It is 2.5-4.5 cm across. It turns yellow when ripe. There is about 1 cm of flesh and one seed.

A tropical plant. It suits hot, dry tropical climates. It grows in the drier regions of West and Central Africa. It can grow in arid places. It grows in savannah woodland.

The ripe fruit is eaten fresh and also used for cakes. The seeds and leaves are eaten as a condiment and vegetable. They are used in soup. The fruit of certain trees can be toxic.

It can be grown from seed. It can also be grown from shoots from the trunk. Stored seed are soaked in sulphuric acid for 30 minutes then washed and soaked in water for 24 hours. The dormancy can be broken by boiling in water for 7 minutes then soaking in water for 24 hours. It can be cut back and will re-grow. Plants can be budded. Plants can be grown from stem cuttings.