Top 20 Most Common Plants in Togo

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Top 20 Most Common Plants in Togo

In Togo, you can find Shea butter, Senegal mahogany, Red syringa, Monkey guava, Mobola plum, and more! There are 20 types of plants in total. Be sure to look out for these common plants when you’re walking on the streets, in parks, or public gardens.

Most Common Plants

Shea butter

Shea butter is a popular deciduous tree found in savanna habitats and has a wide range of uses. The seeds contain fat (shea butter) that is used in cooking, pastries, moisturizers, soaps, candles, and cosmetics. The bark produces a latex that is used in chewing gum and glue. Both the fruits and flowers are important foods to locals living in savanna habitats.

Senegal mahogany

2. Senegal mahogany

The senegal mahogany is a medium-sized tree native to the tropical regions of West Africa. Its fruit changes from gray to black when ripe and discharges winged seeds to be dispersed by the wind. Its wood, Khaya senegalensis, is used for various purposes, including but not limited to interior trimming, construction, carpentry, and fuel.

Red syringa

Leaves are bipinnately compound, silvery pubescent or glabrescent. Flowers are creamy white, fragrant and in pendulous racemes of up to 30 cm in length.

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Monkey guava

4. Monkey guava

Native to the African savanna, monkey guava (Diospyros mespiliformis) is an important food source for African animals. Grazing animals typically eat its leaves, while jackals, in particular, are fond of its fruit, leading to another nickname: jackalberry. It frequently grows over termite mounds because the termites aerate the soil around it, while it offers them protection from the sun.

Mobola plum

Mobola plum is a tree species native to Africa. The fruit of the tree is a popular source of food for humans and wildlife, and is known to be rich in Vitamin C. The wood of the mobola plum is durable and has been used in furniture-making and as fuelwood.

Sweet dattock

6. Sweet dattock

Sweet dattock is a deciduous West African tree with a broad, spreading canopy. It typically grows in dry, open woodland areas, thriving in well-drained soil. The leaves are pinnate with leaflets arranged in opposite pairs. This tree is known for its small, sweet, fibrous fruits that are valued both for their taste and potential medicinal properties. Its hard, reddish-brown wood is utilized locally in construction and carpentry.

Variable combretum

7. Variable combretum

Variable combretum is most notable for its strangely shaped fruit. These dark brown fruits are four-winged and variable in shape, explaining the common name of the tree. Sadly though, they are not edible fruits.

Bridelia ferruginea

8. Bridelia ferruginea

Bridelia ferruginea is a medium-sized deciduous tree characterized by its dense, spreading canopy and rough, rusty-brown bark. The leaves are simple, ovate, and darken as they age, contrasting with the pale green of new growth. This hardy species thrives in a variety of soil types, typically found in African savannas, where its robust nature enables it to withstand dry conditions.

Cashew

It may surprise you to know that cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is related to poison ivy, pistachio, and even mango! It is a tropical evergreen native to Brazil and produces a wood used to build shipping crates, boats, and charcoal. The resin in the shells of the fruits are used to make insecticides and plastics, so the nuts must be separated from the shells before being sold as food. Explorers from Portugal are responsible for introducing cashews to the outside world.

Sand crown-berry

10. Sand crown-berry

Sand crown-berry is a robust, tropical tree that stands out with its reddish-brown bark and elliptical leaves which acquire a glossy green appearance as they mature. This hardy plant often thrives in Savannah landscapes, absorbing the intense sun to bolster its role in traditional medicine, reputed for anti-fever properties. Its resilience against harsh climates is echoed by its firm, upright stance and hearty root system.

Grain sorghum

11. Grain sorghum

The grain of grain sorghum is utilized for human consumption, animal feed, and ethanol manufacturing. It is commonly grown in tropical and subtropical countries, originating in Africa. The grain is used to make liquor, animal feed, and bio-based ethanol, among other things.

Blue Mistflower

12. Blue Mistflower

Blue Mistflower is a flowering shrub in the sunflower family. Allergies to this plant can cause asthma and skin rashes. It is an invasive species in tropical and subtropical pastures and agricultural fields, outcompeting more useful crops. It disperses via spiky seeds that float down waterways and are light enough to be carried by the wind.

Wild custard apple

13. Wild custard apple

Wild custard apple is a common fruit in African markets, sought for its pineapple-like smell, sweet taste and use for flavoring ice cream and other treats. It is also frequently grazed by livestock, and its bark is sometimes used to make insecticides.

Common Wireweed

14. Common Wireweed

Sida acuta is a flowering perennial in the mallow family that is known as common Wireweed. The plant gets its name from its tough, wiry stems and branches. Though common Wireweed is native to Central America and southern North America, this hardy plant has become invasive elsewhere - its wiriness, unfortunately, makes it very difficult to remove from the ground by hand.

Bush fig

The bush fig is also called the broom cluster fig because of the drooping clusters of fruit it produces in the spring and summer. The fruits attract a wide variety of birds and even fruit bats. The large tree, growing up to 35 meters, is perhaps most valued for the shade it provides across African countries.

Common bushweed

16. Common bushweed

The common bushweed (*Flueggea virosa*) is a bushy shrub that produces white, waxy fruits favored by animals and birds. Native to Southern Africa on woodland margins and riverbanks, it has also become naturalized in Hawaii and parts of China, where it is invasive and disruptive to local ecosystems. Common bushweed branches are regularly used to create handmade fish traps.

Pignut

It is generally 91 to 152 cm tall, occasionally up to 3 m. Stems are hairy and square in cross-section. Leaves are oppositely arranged, 2 to 10 cm long, with shallowly toothed margins, and emit a strong minty odor if crushed. Flowers are pink or purple, arranged in clusters of 2.5 to 13 cm in the upper leaf axils.

Octopus cabbage tree

18. Octopus cabbage tree

Octopus cabbage tree is a robust tree typically identified by its palm-like silhouette with a thick, sturdy trunk. It sports large, digitate leaves radiating at the tip of its branches, creating an umbrella-like canopy. This adaptive feature allows octopus cabbage tree to thrive in various environments by capturing sunlight efficiently and shading its own base. Its distinctive appearance makes octopus cabbage tree an attractive and recognizable feature in both natural and cultivated landscapes.

Tamarind

Tamarind is a monotypic perennial tree grown for its timber and edible fruits. Tamarind trees yield brown seed fruits with a sweet, acidic pulp used in various varieties of cuisines around the world. The pulp is also used as a metal polish.

Coatbuttons

20. Coatbuttons

Coatbuttons is native to the tropical Americas and has become an invasive weed around the world. It produces arrowhead-shaped yellow or white flowers and hard fruit covered with stiff hairs. This plant is regarded as invasive because it produces up to 1,500 of these hard fruits per plant and spreads easily, outcompeting native vegetation.

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More Plants in Togo

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Most Common Toxic Plants

Togo's warm climate and abundant rainfall create a fertile environment that can support a diverse range of plant life, including toxic species. As a result, plants such as , , and find a hospitable habitat in this region. The prevalence of these potentially harmful flora poses an ongoing concern for both local biodiversity and human safety.

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Most Common Flowers

Togo's climate and soil provide an ideal environment for a diverse range of native flowers to flourish. Among the most characteristic blooms are , , and . These flowers add visual beauty to the region and hold symbolic and ecological significance. Precise and trustworthy sources confirm their presence in Togo's vibrant floral landscape.

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Most Common Flowers of Spring

As snow melts and sunlight bathes the landscapes of Togo, Spring exhales vitality into the natural world, prompting blooms that colorfully declare the season’s arrival. Distinguished flowers like , known for its vivid hues, , symbolizing new beginnings, and , essential for maintaining local biodiversity, are the harbingers of Spring's refreshing essence.

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Most Common Spring Fruits

Spring in Togo is a time when the land awakens, showering the landscapes with vibrant life and nourishing rains. During this season, the warm sun and fertile soils cultivate an abundance of local fruit plants. Notable among these are , whose juicy ripeness symbolizes the freshness of the season, , a vital source of nourishment for the communities, and , each fruit bursting with flavors that echo the vitality of Spring. These fruits are not only delicious but also integral to the cultural and economic fabric of the region.

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Most Common Fruits

Togo's tropical climate and fertile soils create an ideal environment for various fruit plants. Significant local varieties including , , and thrive in such conditions. These plants hold not only nutritional value but are also deeply interwoven with the cultural fabric of the community, often used in traditional recipes and ceremonies. These fruit plants contribute to the nation's biodiversity and the local economy, supporting the agricultural sector.

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Most Common Trees

Togo's climate and soil conditions provide a favorable environment for the growth of native trees. Amongst these, three emblematic trees include , , and . These trees hold great significance in the region, whether culturally or ecologically. They contribute to the country's biodiversity, provide habitat for various species, and have traditional uses that enrich the local culture. Their presence highlights the importance of preserving Togo's unique natural heritage.

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Most Common Weeds

Togo's tropical climate, marked by abundant rainfall and warm temperatures, creates an ideal breeding ground for a variety of garden weeds. Among the most common, , , and are notorious for their rapid growth and resilience, often outcompeting native species and challenging gardeners. Effective management of these invasive weeds requires persistent efforts to maintain plant biodiversity and ensure healthy gardens.

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Most Common Tall Trees

Nestled in the heart of West Africa, Togo's humid climate and undulating terrain create an ideal environment for some of the tallest trees on the continent to thrust their branches towards the heavens. Among them, , , and stand as nature's skyscrapers, vital to the region's biodiversity and emblematic of its rich ecological tapestry. These arboreal giants have witnessed history, supported countless species, and continue to inspire awe with their lofty presence.

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Most Common Flowers of Winter

Winter in 'Togo' envelopes the landscape in a serene cold, yet amidst the frosty environment, certain flowers brave the chill. Three specific blooms that blossom in Winter are , , and . These flowers showcase remarkable resilience, exude captivating beauty, and hold profound symbolic depth, adding a touch of color and life to the wintry scenery of 'Togo'.

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