PlantsMap

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8 plants worth knowing

Ghana

Southern and western Ghana were originally covered by rainforest and semi-evergreen forest, now largely replaced by cacao plantations. A surprisingly dry coastal savanna stretches along the coast around Accra, while the north of the country consists of vast Guinea savannas with shea trees, baobabs and parkia.

Hover over a plant to see on the map where it grows.

where it grows

  1. Cacao 1

    crop · Cacao tree on the coat of arms of Ghana

    Cacao

    Theobroma cacao

    The cacao tree on Ghana’s coat of arms – ever since Tetteh Quarshie brought its seeds in 1879, cocoa has been the nation’s pride and wealth.
  2. Shea tree 2

    tree

    Shea tree

    Vitellaria paradoxa

    The “women’s gold” of northern Ghana – shea nuts yield a butter used in cooking and in cosmetics all over the world.
  3. Gbanja kola 3

    tree

    Gbanja kola

    Cola nitida

    Kola nuts built the power of the Ashanti kingdom – caravans carried them from Ghana’s forests all the way to the Hausa cities of Nigeria.
  4. Obeche 4

    tree

    Obeche

    Triplochiton scleroxylon

    The most heavily logged tree in Ghana’s forests – pale, light wawa timber goes into plywood, mouldings and saunas.
  5. Iroko 5

    tree

    Iroko

    Milicia excelsa

    Odum – “African teak”, Ghana’s most valuable timber and a revered tree that tradition says is home to spirits.
  6. Cassava 6

    crop

    Cassava

    Manihot esculenta

    Pounded with plantain, cassava makes fufu – Ghana’s best-known dish; the roots are also turned into gari, kokonte and akyeke.
  7. African oil palm 7

    palm

    African oil palm

    Elaeis guineensis

    In Ghana the oil palm’s fruit makes abɛnkwan palm-nut soup, and its sap becomes palm wine and the spirit distilled from it, akpeteshie.
  8. White yam 8

    crop

    White yam

    Dioscorea rotundata

    Ghana is one of the world’s leading yam exporters, and the harvest of new tubers is celebrated with festivals in many parts of the country.