Flora and Fauna of Benin: The Lorax Tree: Part 3

Loyal followers of my blog might remember that I posted photos last year of a tree I dubbed the Lorax Tree because it looked like it belonged in a Dr. Seuss book. Last Friday, I finally had a chance to take a picture of what this tree actually produces, and it turns out that that has a story of its own. Also, I learned the real name of the tree: the nere tree (pronounced nay-ray).

As you may remember from last year, after producing something that looks like orange Koosh balls, the tree produces large green pods. Inside the pod is a bright yellow material (as seen in the picture below) that seems somewhat like cotton or styrofoam.

A girl eating the sweet yellow substance that her family harvested in large quantities from the pods

Within the yellow cotton-like material are small brown things that are prepared for transformation into what the Beninese call 'mustard'.

These small brown things are separated out and collected

The small brown things are cooked and then set out to dry.

Dried and ready for pounding

Then they are pounded with a mortar and pestle and eventually formed into a round disc, which is sold in the market as 'mustard'.

The final product: "mustard"

This 'mustard' can be broken off into small chunks and added to sauces for extra flavor. In reality, it tastes nothing like mustard. You could really just consider it to play a role of a spice because it adds a new flavor to the sauce.


For those of you who never read my earlier posts on this tree or want a refresher, you can view them here:
Part 1: http://twoyearsasayovo.blogspot.com/2013/02/flora-and-fauna-of-benin-lorax-tree.html
Part 2: http://twoyearsasayovo.blogspot.com/2013/04/flora-and-fauna-of-benin-lorax-tree.html

Safari

A few weeks ago, I went on safari in Pendjari National Park in northwestern Benin. Below are some of the animals we spotted.

A crocodile calling out to a friend

Thirsty baboons come to the watering hole for a drink (note the baby on its mother's back).

While waiting outside the toilets at a hotel, I heard a noise and found this viper at my feet. It is apparently very venomous and dangerous. It was my most dangerous encounter of the trip.

The park is home to many antelope, which did not seem particularly exciting because many varieties look quite like deer.

Buffaloes resting in the shade

A warthog family

A lion getting ready to hunt

Hippos

Our guide and his car

An Announcement about Mail

Given the speed of transatlantic mail, anything sent to me from now onward is unlikely to reach me before my departure. If you had the intention of sending something, please do not waste your money on postage.

While I am on the subject, I would like to say that there are few things that make a Peace Corps volunteer happier than receiving mail. To those of you have have written to me or even sent packages over the last two years, you cannot imagine how much it meant to me. I always tried to write back after receiving mail, and I hope I expressed my gratitude sufficiently in those letters.

Thank you all very much.