Fruitiers Sauvages d’Afrique

by J. Vivien and J.J. Faure

I had just about given up hope of finding any book on the wild edible plants of the Cameroon when a book store manager showed me this title on her inventory screen and said that she could get me a copy from their warehouse in Douala, I started dancing and cheering in the store!

This book “ Fruitiers Sauvages d’Afrique, Espèces du Cameroun” ( Wild Edible Fruit Trees of Africa, species of Cameroon) is truly another rare find. Published in 1995 it is apparently out of print.

The authors were two ardent naturalists who did extensive studies over several decades of the flora and fauna of Cameroon. This work is singular and unique. The graphic design and the photos in this book leave a lot to be desired they quite honestly are pathetic, nevertheless, it is a valuable and unique resource on the edible wild fruits of Cameroon.

The authors go into great detail where the different species have been localized listing locations in the book. Also, they address the perplexing diversity of local names, which indeed can be numerous because Cameroon has so many different ethnic groups and languages within its borders.

A great number of species are covered, surely more than 200 and perhaps even more.

If you are interested in West African fruit it behooves you to try and find this work.