Irvingiaceae
Quick Summary
The Irvingiaceae is a family of tropical trees found in Africa and Southeast Asia. These trees are characterized by distinctive leaves with longitudinal markings and large, deciduous stipules that enclose a prominent terminal bud. The family contains three genera and ten species.
A notable member of this family is the wild mango, genus Irvingia. Species like Irvingia gabonensis produce edible yellow fruit that resembles the unrelated mango. The seeds of the wild mango are rich in fat, used locally for making bread and butter, and its wood is exceptionally hard and resistant to termites, making it valuable for construction. Previously, species in the Irvingiaceae family were classified under the tree of heaven family, Simaroubaceae.123
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