Tetrapleura tetraptera
Tetrapleura tetraptera is a species of flowering plant in the pea family native to Western Africa.[1] The plant is called Prekese (or, more correctly, Prɛkɛsɛ aka Soup Perfume) in the Twi language of Ghana.[2] It is also called Uhio (Uhiokrihio) in the Igbo Language of Nigeria,
| Tetrapleura tetraptera | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Tetrapleura tetraptera (Prekese) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | T. tetrapterae |
| Binomial name | |
| Tetrapleura tetraptera | |
The tree has many uses. Its sweet fragrance is highly valued, its fruit is used to spice dishes such as Banga soup, and its bark is used for medicinal purposes. The major constituents are tannins, flavonoids and starch.
In West Africa, the plant Tetrapleura tetraptera (locally known as Aridan) is used as a spice, a medicine and as a dietary supplement rich in vitamins.[3][4] it is mostly found in Ghana in West Africa. it is used to prepare palm nut soup and other types of soups especially what is known by most Ghanaians as light soup because of its perceived medicinal benefits and whetting aroma. It is widely believed in Ghana that the plant only flourishes in few places like Ghana, Nigeria and Israel but this is merely an unfounded myth which is yet to be proven true.
References
- Margaret Steentoft, Flowering plants in West Africa, Cambridge University Press, 1988, ISBN 978-0-521-26192-0,
... aidan tree (Tetrapleura tetraptera) fruits are similarly useful, the seeds being rich in oil ...
- Paul Osei-Tutu; Kwabena Nketiah; Boateng Kyereh; Mercy Owusu-Ansah; Joseph Faniyan, Hidden forestry revealed: Characteristics, constraints and opportunities for small and medium forest enterprises in Ghana, IIED, ISBN 978-1-84369-454-0,
... Prekese (Tetrapluera tetraptera) – prekese tea bags, syrup as medicine and spices ...
- Thomas E. Kyei; Jean Marie Allman, Our days dwindle: memories of my childhood days in Asante, Heinemann, 2001, ISBN 978-0-325-07042-1,
... Prekese The tree bore large fruits, bits of which were used as spice in soups. The pungent scent of its fruit earned for it the ... ("Prekese, the insuppressible, whose presence permeates houses as he touches at its outskirts ...
- Herbert M. Cole; Doran H. Ross, The arts of Ghana, Museum of Cultural History, University of California, 1977,
... A plant with a strong, sweet scent (Soup Perfume) is the fourth umbrella subject. It signifies that the chief's presence ... The Asantes call it "prekese(Soup Perfume) the sweet scenter, whose fodor is felt in all houses when it starts from the end of town" ...