Lannea microcarpa facts for kids

Lannea microcarpa is a plant often called African grapes. It belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, which includes trees like mangoes and cashews. This plant grows in West Africa, from Senegal to Cameroon. People use it to make a special red and brown dye for traditional cloth.

What it Looks Like

This plant can grow quite tall, up to 15 meters (about 50 feet). It has a short trunk and a thick, bushy top. The bark is smooth and grey.

Its leaves grow in a special way, with smaller leaflets on each stem. Each leaf can be up to 23 cm long. The leaflets are shaped like narrow eggs, about 5-13 cm long. They feel a bit rough and waxy on top.

The flowers grow in clusters at the ends of the branches. The fruits are oval-shaped and grow in bunches, like grapes. Each bunch can have 3 to 25 fruits. When they are ripe, they turn a dark purple or black color.

Where it Grows

The African grape plant is found in the Sudanian and Guinea savannas of West Africa. You can also find it growing in Cameroon. Savannas are grasslands with scattered trees.

How People Use It

People in West Africa use different parts of the Lannea microcarpa plant.

• Food: Locals collect and eat the leaves and fruits.
• Medicine: Extracts from the leaves are used in traditional medicine. They help with healing wounds. People also use them for eye problems (like conjunctivitis) and mouth sores (like gingivitis). A special tea made from the root bark can help with stomach issues and skin problems.
• Dye: The sap that comes out of the bark is used to dye fabrics. It makes a beautiful red-brown color. This dye is used for "basil-lan fini," which is a traditional cloth. It is also used for other handmade fabrics in the area.