by admin | November 27, 2020 11:40 am
This evergreen tree grows up to around 15 feet. It has a big buttress and short stubby roots which hold great amounts of water, thus a drought resistant tree. The nut has a hard shell and splits open when ripe, releasing around 15 fingernail size seeds. If the seeds are soaked overnight in water they will split and begin to germinate like a bean but with two compressed leaves already formed. These germinating seedlings can be eaten raw or lightly cooked/fried in combination with other dishes of one’s own choice. They are among the best nuts in terms of flavour and taste.
A grafted tree will bear fruit around 2 years and seedlings within 5 years. In some African countries, the tree is grown commercially for making flour from the nuts. This will be a good substitute for people intolerant to eating wheat flour products. Because the plant needs little water to survive and the flowers are highly scented, this tree is widely treasured as a gift plant and as a bonsai in Taiwan and Japan.
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