false yam
Icacina oliviformis (Poir.) J.Raynal
Icacina oliviformis (Poir.) J.Raynal is a species in the Icacinaceae family, native to several regions in Africa including Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. The fruit is elliptical, red-brown when mature, with a puberulent epicarp and a mesocarp 420–620 µm thick. The endocarp is elliptical in lateral view and globose in cross-section, with a keel and vascular bundle embedded in the dorsal wall. It has a rugose outer surface with 70–80 polygonal mounds and a wall thickness of 288–307 µm (excluding mounds).
Description
The fruit of Icacina oliviformis is 17–23 mm long, 13–16 mm wide, and 9–14 mm thick, with a puberulent epicarp covered in small ovoid hairs. The endocarp is elliptical in lateral view and globose in transverse section, measuring approximately 18 mm in length, 13.1 mm in width, and 14 mm in thickness. A keel runs along the dorsal length, flanked by two channels, with a single ventral channel. The outer surface is rugose, with 70–80 square-polygonal mounds arranged in 7–8 longitudinal lines. The endocarp wall consists of two cell layers: an outer layer with 7–8 rows of anticlinally oriented cells and an inner layer with 8–9 rows of periclinally oriented cells. The locule surface is smooth and lacunate. Pores with central pits are positioned subapically on each face.
Other common names
false yam
Distribution
Africa · Benin · Cape Verde · Central African Repu · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea-Bissau · Guinea · Mali · Nigeria · Senegal · Sudan · Togo · Zaïre · Base-Guinée · Moyenne-Guinée
Synonyms
Hirtella oliviformis