Tree Directory

Common Name

Shea tree

Family

Sapotaceae

Origin & Distribution

Native to the savanna regions of West and Central Africa, from Senegal to Uganda and South Sudan. In Nigeria, commonly found in the northern Guinea and Sudan savanna zones but cultivated in botanical gardens further south.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Tree Code

UI-BG-TS-011

GPS Coordinates (Lat, Long)

7.458125, 3.896814

QR Code

Download

Description

Medium to large evergreen tree, 10–25 m tall, with a dense, rounded crown. Bark dark grey to brown, deeply fissured, secreting a sticky latex when cut. Leaves simple, oblong–elliptic, leathery, and clustered at branch tips. Flowers small, cream to greenish-white, fragrant, in clusters at leaf axils. Fruit is a fleshy berry, ellipsoid, 3–6 cm long, green when unripe and yellow–brown when ripe, containing a single shiny brown seed (shea nut).

Ecological Information

Thrives in well-drained, deep, sandy or loamy soils. Tolerates dry conditions but grows slowly in the absence of adequate moisture. In Ibadan's Botanical Garden, benefits from the more humid climate, producing healthy foliage but fruiting less abundantly than in its native savanna range.

Uses & Importance

Seeds yield shea butter, widely used for cooking, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Wood is hard and durable, used for tool handles, furniture, and fuelwood. Bark and leaves are used in traditional medicine for treating various ailments. Leaves also provide shade and microclimate benefits in agroforestry systems.