Shea butter tree

Japanese: シアーバターノキ（英語表記）shea butter tree

An evergreen tall tree of the Sapotaceae family found in tropical Africa, producing latex. The seeds produce the famous shea butter. The twigs are thick, with the surface rough and showing traces of where larger leaves once were. The thin, leathery leaves are gathered in large numbers at the tips of the twigs, alternate, oblong, about 8 cm long, flattened at the tips, slightly pointed at the base, no sawtooth edges, and the undersides of young leaves are densely covered with reddish-brown hairs. The petioles are 1-2 cm long. The flowers grow singly in the axils, about 1 cm in diameter. The fruits are oval and about 3 cm long.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

熱帯アフリカに分布するアカテツ科の常緑高木で乳液を有する。種子からは有名なシアーバターがとれる。小枝は太く，表面は大きな葉のついていた跡が残り，あらい。うすい革質の葉は小枝の先端に多数集まり，互生し，長楕円形，長さ8cm内外，先端はつぶれ，基部はややとがり，ふちに鋸歯はなく，若葉は裏面に赤褐色の毛を密布する。葉柄は長さ1～2cm。花は葉腋（ようえき）に単生し，径1cmぐらい。果実は卵円形で長さ3cmぐらい。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Ground rain - Jiame

>>: Shiite - Shi'a (English spelling)