Rare species African Butter Tree adorns BTRI

The Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) in Srimangal, Moulvibazar, is home to a rare African Butter Tree that has become a major attraction for visitors, researchers, and trainees due to its unique appearance and seasonal flowering.

The institute covers an area of more than 100 hectares (over 250 acres). The entire campus resembles a vast garden of trees, featuring rows of tea plants along with thousands of ornamental, fruit-bearing, and medicinal plant species.

Amid this rich greenery stands a distinctive tree that is well known among officials and visitors but remains largely unfamiliar to the general public.

Located in a field beside the road on the southwest corner of the institute’s main office building, the tree is a major attraction for officials and employees, trainees from tea gardens across the country, and both domestic and international tourists.

With its wide-spreading branches resembling an umbrella, the tree draws the attention of every visitor.

At the end of winter, it produces abundant yellow flowers. Both its flowers and leaves are highly attractive. The flowers bloom in clusters, and the unique shape of its leaves distinguishes it from other trees.

Although most trees on the BTRI campus have nameplates, this particular tree does not have any signage around it. However, authorities have stated that it is considered a nationally significant tree species.

The tree is known as the “African Butter Tree.” According to BTRI sources, it was first introduced around 1991-1992 when then Director of BTRI, Dr. S. A. Rashid, visited Australia on an official tour.

He first saw the tree in a botanical garden there and was impressed by it. Later, upon returning home, he collected a sapling and brought it back to Bangladesh.

Shortly after his visit, Dr. S. A. Rashid was transferred to another post, and he could not personally oversee the planting of the sapling. After him, Md. Majlis Mollah served as Director of BTRI, but the sapling was not planted during his tenure. Later, A. F. M. Badrul Alam, then Acting Director of BTRI, took responsibility and eventually planted the tree on the campus near the main office building with support from the institute’s laboratory section.

A few years after being planted, the tree began to flower and later bore fruit. In several countries, butter is extracted from the fruit of this tree.

Sohan Ansari, manager of the Lohainy-Holichhara Tea Garden in Kulaura Upazila, said, “I used to visit BTRI for training four to five times a year. The tree always attracted us. At the end of winter, its beautiful flowers transform the surrounding environment.”

Rajib Pal, an employee of a private organisation in Dhaka, said, “Last year, I visited Srimangal to enjoy its natural beauty and was fascinated by the African Butter Tree on the BTRI campus.

At first, I did not know its name, so I asked a BTRI scientific officer and learned about it.

This year, I visited again with my family and took photos and videos with the tree.

Although there were no flowers last year, I was captivated by its leaves and spreading branches. This year, I was fortunate to see its extraordinary blossoms as well.”

Travel writer and eco-tour guide Shyamal Debbarma said, “Every day, numerous tourists visit Srimangal to enjoy its natural beauty.

BTRI is also one of the key tourist attractions. Along with rare species such as the African Butter Tree and the Nagalingam tree, the campus becomes even more attractive when these trees are in bloom.”

Nature and environment writer Mokaram Hossain provides detailed information about the African Butter Tree (Pentadesma butyracea). It is native to the tropical forests of West Africa, ranging from Sierra Leone to Cameroon.

A type of butter known as Kpangnan butter is extracted from its fruit and is produced in countries such as Togo and Benin, and is also sold in Europe under the name “yellow butter.”

One notable characteristic of this butter is its high stigmasterol content, which is believed to help reduce the risk of certain cancers, including ovarian cancer. Stigmasterol is a plant sterol commonly found in seeds and plant oils such as soybean, rapeseed, and cocoa butter.

The butter has a wide range of uses in African countries.The tree can grow up to about 60 feet in height.