Afrostyrax



The Afrostyrax is a very small genus in the equally small Huaceae family, with only three plant species, all three of which are found only in Africa:

  • the Afrostyrax kamerunensis
  • the Afrostyrax lepidophyllus and
  • the Afrostyrax macranthus

They have in common that all parts of these plants have a penetrating onion or garlic smell. For this reason, both the bark and the fruits of the Afrostyrax lepidophyllus are used in cooking, especially in Ghana, Cameroon and Congo, where the tree grows naturally.

Common names include country onion or bush onion, but in the many languages ​​of this part of Africa you will find many other names, including hiomi, which is mainly used to refer to the bark, and ngô.

The popularity of the ngô hiomi encourages market mechanisms that can threaten the natural habitat. Because the yield is subject to strong fluctuations (as is the price), there is a tendency to harvest the nuts too intensively, especially in times of scarcity.

There is a lot of attention for this. The harvest of the garlic nut is considered sustainable in various studies, and is critically monitored given the vulnerable status of the Afrostyrax lepidophyllus on the International Red List of Threatened Plant Species.

In addition, there is an incentive to plant the trees, including under the auspices of the Environment and Rural Development Foundation ERuDeF. The replanting has been very successful, including near the Mt Cameroon National Park, where many farming communities depend on the harvest of the garlic nut.