Description
A tall forest tree bearing distinctive twisted, dark bean-like pods, valued across West Africa as a spice.
Medicinal Uses
Fruits, seeds, and bark are used traditionally for coughs, respiratory infections, rheumatism, malaria, and menstrual and fertility complaints; crushed seeds are applied to the forehead for headache.
Food Uses
The dried pods are used whole or ground as a peppery, musky spice in soups, stews, and smoked-fish preparation.
Cultivation
A forest tree, harvested from the wild and increasingly grown in home gardens and agroforestry systems.
