Irvingia

For the plant genus authored by Ferdinand von Mueller, see Polyscias.

Irvingia is a genus of African and Southeast Asian trees in the family Irvingiaceae, sometimes known by the common names wild mango, African mango, bush mango, dika, mbukpap uyo or ogbono.

Irvingia
Ogbono nuts
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Irvingiaceae
Genus:	Irvingia Hook.f. 1860 not F. Muell. 1865 (syn of Polyscias in Araliaceae)[1]
Type species
Irvingia smithii Hook.f.[2][3]
Synonyms[4]
Irvingella Tiegh.

Irvingia malayana in Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak, Vietnam

They bear edible mango-like fruits (large drupes, with fibrous flesh), and are especially valued for their fat- and protein-rich nuts.

Taxonomy

Irvingia was described as a genus in 1860.^[5][3] The genus is named in honour of Edward George Irving, a Royal Navy surgeon.^[6]

List of species:^[4]

Image	Scientific name	Distribution
	Irvingia excelsa	C Africa
	Irvingia gabonensis	W + C Africa
	Irvingia grandifolia	C Africa
	Irvingia malayana	SE Asia
	Irvingia robur	W + C Africa
	Irvingia smithii	W + C Africa
	Irvingia tenuinucleata	W + C Africa

Distribution

It is native to Africa and Southeast Asia.^[4]

Uses

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 agents for dishes such as ogbono soup. The nuts may also be pressed for vegetable oil.

The trees yield a hard wood, useful in construction.