Butryospermum paradoxum

Butter tree, shea nut, shea butter, karité

Useful reference: 288

A tree 15-20 m high with a stout trunk bearing leathery oval leaves. The large fleshy nuts (or seeds) yield about 45% edible lardlike fat.

USE. The oilcake, like the seeds, contains saponins which irritates the digestive tract of animals. Because of its very bitter taste, it is unpalatable. It is especially toxic to pigs, which are poisoned if more than 20% is included in the ration. Ruminants can tolerate more, but a higher than 30% inclusion will affect the digestibility of other feeds in the ration. Because of its very low nutritive value, it is often used as a material in compound cake to provide non-nutritive bulk.