Small to medium-sized deciduous tree up to 15(–25) m tall; taproot up to 1(–2) m long, lateral roots shallow, concentrated at a depth of 10 cm and extending up to 20 m outward from the tree, secondary lateral roots growing downwards to the same depth as the tap root; bole short, usually 3–4 m long, up to 100 cm in diameter; bark blackish, greyish or reddish, rough, deeply fissured and splitting regularly into corky square or rectangular scales, producing white latex when cut; crown round to spindle-, umbrella- or broom-shaped; young branches initially pubescent and reddish but becoming glabrous, flowering branches stout, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, with numerous leaf scars. Leaves arranged spirally, mostly in dense clusters at the tips of branches, simple; stipules small and caducous; petiole 3–10 cm long; blade lanceolate to ovate-oblong, 10–25 cm × 4–14 cm, base cuneate to rounded or slightly cordate, apex rounded to acute, margins entire to wavy, leathery, glabrescent to slightly hairy at both surfaces, pinnately veined with regularly and closely spaced veins. Inflorescence a dense fascicle at the end of a twig, (8–)30–40(–100)-flowered. Flowers bisexual, regular, white or creamy white, fragrant; pedicel up to 3 cm long; sepals free, in 2 whorls of (3–)4, 1–1.5 cm long, pubescent; corolla with short tube and (6–)8 lobes about as long as sepals, contorted in bud; stamens (6–)8, inserted at top of corolla tube, free, staminodes (6–)8, alternating with the stamens, petal-like, with a filiform point; ovary superior, globose to ovoid, pubescent, (5–)6–8(–10)-celled, style long and slender. Fruit a globose to ellipsoid berry 4–5(–8) cm × 2.5–5 cm, weight (10–)20–30(–57) g, initially green but turning yellowish green or brown on maturity, 1(–2)-seeded. Seed globose or broadly ellipsoid, 3–5 cm × 2–3.5 cm, weight (5–)8–10(–16) g; seed coat rather thin, shining, with broad scar; kernel consisting of two thick, fleshy, closely adpressed cotyledons and not-exserted radicle.

Galactogogue and antimicrobial (bark decoction)

AgroForestryTree Database
PROTAbase: Vitellaria paradoxa

The kernel of the seed (often incorrectly called ‘nut’) contains a vegetable fat known as shea butter. Its application relieves rheumatic and joint pains and heals wounds, swellings, dermatitis, bruises and other skin problems. It is traditionally used in medicines, particularly for the preparation of skin ointments, and is used to treat inflammation of the nostrils, rashes in children, dermatitis, sunburn, chapping, irritation, ulcers and as a rub for rheumatism. Leaf decoctions are used for stomach-ache, headache and as an eye lotion. Roots and root bark are ground to a paste and taken orally to cure jaundice. They are also used for the treatment of diarrhoea and stomach-ache. A bark decoction is used in a bath to facilitate childbirth. A bark infusion is used as an eyewash as a footbath to help extract jiggers, and to neutralize the venom of the spitting cobra. Infusions have been taken for the treatment of leprosy and for gastric problems as well as for diarrhea and dysentery.