View source for Irvingia

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Irvingia''
| image = OGBONO.JPG
| image_caption = Ogbono nuts
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Malpighiales]]
| familia = [[Irvingiaceae]]
| genus = '''''Irvingia'''''
<!-- | genus_authority = -->
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = see text
}}

:''For Irvingia <small>[[F.Muell.]]</small>, see its synonym [[Polyscias]].''

'''''Irvingia''''' is a genus of [[Africa]]n and [[Southeast Asia]]n [[tree]]s in the family [[Irvingiaceae]], sometimes known by the common names '''wild mango''', '''African mango''', or '''bush mango'''.  They bear edible [[mango]]-like fruits, and are especially valued for their [[fat]]- and [[protein]]-rich nuts, known as '''ogbono''', '''etima''', '''odika''', or '''dika nuts'''.

The subtly aromatic nuts are typically dried in the sun for preservation, and are sold whole or in powder form.  They may be ground to a paste known variously as dika bread or Gabon chocolate.  Their high content of [[mucilage]] enables them to be used as [[thickening agent]]s for dishes such as [[ogbono soup]].  The nuts may also be pressed for [[vegetable oil]].

The fruit is a large [[drupe]], with fibrous flesh.

The trees yield a hard [[wood]], useful in construction.

== Species ==
* ''Irvingia gabonensis'' (Aubry-Lecomte ex O'Rorke) Baill.
* ''Irvingia malayana'' Oliv. ex A. W. Benn.

== External links ==
{{unimelb|Irvingia.html}}
* http://www.congocookbook.com/c0162.html

[[Category:malpighiales]]
[[Category:Edible nuts and seeds]]