20 Jun Buchholzia coriacea
Scientific name: Buchholzia coriacea Engl.
Family: Capparaceae.
Distribution/conservation status: an understory tree occurring in evergreen forest, often near watercourses. Not assessed by the IUCN red List.
Common names: Elephant kola (English), Obo (Yoruba), Owi (Edo).
Fruits/seeds: orange-yellow, smooth, and irregularly ovoid, containing 1 – 4 black, globose, slightly flattened seeds.
Fruiting time: July – August.
Seed collection: ripe fruits open slightly and fall off tree; collect from under parent tree and prise open to remove seeds.
Type of seed: recalcitrant.
Sowing method: sow at a depth of 2 – 3 cm.
Sowing medium: cured sawdust.
Germination period: 30 days.
Germination percentage: 75%.
Growth/development: seedlings require shade; they grow quite quickly and can be planted out after 4 weeks.
Notes: fruits are normally dispersed by forest elephants. In forests where there are no longer elephants, nursery propagation is essential to ensure survival of this species.
Buchholzia coriacea seedling. credits: D.Bown