Mongongo

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Plant Info
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Scientific classification
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Binomial name
Schinziophyton rautanenii (Schinz) Radcl.-Sm.
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Synonyms
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Formerly known as Ricinodendron rautanenii, the mongongo tree is a member of the family Euphorbiaceae and of the monotypic genus Schinziophyton. A large, spreading tree, the mongongo reaches 15-20 metres tall. It is found on wooded hills and in amongst sand dunes, and is associated with the Kalahari sand soil-types. The leaves are a distinctive hand-shape, and the pale yellow wood is similar in characteristics to balsa, being both lightweight and strong. The yellowish flowers occur in slender, loose sprays.

Fruit

Known as mongongo fruit or mongongo nut, the egg-shaped, velvety fruits ripen and fall between March and May each year, and contain a thin layer of edible flesh around a thick, hard, pitted shell. Inside this shell is a tasty and highly nutritious nut.

Distribution

The mongongo is distributed widely throughout southern Africa. There are several distinct belts of distribution, the largest of which reaches from northern Namibia into northern Botswana, south-western Zambia and western Zimbabwe. Another belt is found in eastern Malawi, and yet another in eastern Mozambique.

Traditional uses

So popular are the fruit and nuts of the mongongo tree that they have even been described as a "staple diet" in some areas (most notably amongst the San bushmen of northern Botswana and Namibia). Archaeological evidence has shown that they have been consumed amongst San communities for over 7,000 years. Their popularity stems in part from their flavour, and in part from the fact that they store well, and remain edible for much of the year.

Dry fruits are first steamed to soften the skins. After peeling, the fruits are then cooked in water until the maroon-coloured flesh separates from the hard inner nuts. The pulp is eaten, and the nuts are saved to be roasted later. Alternatively, nuts are collected from elephant dung- the hard nut survives intact through the digestive process and elephant does the hard work of collecting the nuts. During roasting of the nuts, direct contact with the fire is avoided, using sand to distribute the heat evenly. Once dry, the outer shell cracks easily, revealing the nut, encased within a soft, inner shell. The nuts are either eaten straight, or pounded as ingredients in other dishes.

The oil from the nuts has also been traditionally used as a body rub in the dry winter months, to clean and moisten the skin, while the hard, outer nut-shells are popular as divining "bones". The wood, being both strong and light, makes excellent fishing floats, toys, insulating material and drawing boards. More recently, it has been used to make dart-boards and packing cases.

Nutrition

Per 100 grams shelled nuts:

• 57 g fat:
  • 44% polyunsaturated
  • 17% saturated
  • 18% monounsaturated
• 24 g protein
• 193 mg calcium
• 4 mg zinc
• 2.8 mg copper
• 565 mg vitamin E (y tocopherol)

Mongongo in Popular Culture

The January 29th, 2007 episode of the TV show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip made reference to the mongongo fruit as a satirical addition to the Fruit of the Loom fruits. It was to be played as a black militant as a contrast to the other, politically neutral fruit characters.