The term "butter tree" refers to the African butter tree or shea butter tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) from the sapote family (Sapotaceae). Vitellaria paradoxa is the parent plant of shea butter.
Butter tree
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In a broader sense, other very different plants from various plant families in different parts of the world are also given the name "butter tree". What they have in common is exclusively their ability to produce butter-like, fatty (seed) oils. Among these butter trees are counted:
- Indian butter tree (Madhuca longifolia, also called Bassia latifolia, Bassia longifolia, Madhuca jelly tree, Illipé, Indian Mahwa or Madhuka tree), from the sapot family (Sapotaceae).
- Indian butter tree (Diploknema butyracea, also called Bassia butyracea), from the sapot family (Sapotaceae).
- West African butter tree (Pentadesma butyraceum), African plant species from the Clusiaceae family.
- Dacryodes edulis (also known as African plum) from the family of the balsam tree plants (Burseraceae).