BATS AND THE WEST AFRICAN LOCUST TREE

Another life-sustaining bean-bat tree, and another life-sustaining bat tree described in the mid-1800's by the stout hearted African explorer, Mungo Park. Park said the tree resembled a mimosa, with its fern like leaves. A native name for the tree is "nitta" and it is also known as the fern-leafed nitta tree.

A number of related species,some of which grow in Malaysia, also bear Park's name; Parkia africana, P. filicoidea, P. javanica, P. speciosa and P. biglobosa.

In a 1965 Commercial Forestry Review article, Osmaston credited the straw-coloured flying fox with pollination of P. filicoidea's hanging clusters of bright red, nectar-rich flowers. I am unaware of any scientific evidence that the straw-coloured flying fox or any bat also disperses Parkia seeds. But why not?

Straw-coloured flying fox (Eidolon helvum)
Photography by David Liebman, Courtesy of Lubee Bat Conservancy

The pulp of the forearm length seed pods is known to be very sweet and is enjoyed by humans, old and young. Why not by bats? Bats are known to eat the pod contents of the locust tree's botanical and geographical relative, the tamarind tree, Tamarindus indica.

Another family-related tree, the middle eastern carob tree, which produces a pod containing a chocolaty pulp, is enjoyed by humans and Egyptian rousette bats, who disperse the seeds.

Parkia species that grow in Malaysia (P. speciosa, P. javanica, P. singularis) are pollinated by the dawn bat and are considered by Start and Marshall to be bat dependent. The Malaysian Parkia species are not used by humans to the same extent as the African species but they are sources of medicine, net tougheners, dye and soap. The wood is used for light construction.

Dawn bat (Eonycteris spelaea)

A review follows of the West African locust tree's contributions to the well-being of humans and the planet:

The fruit producing schedule of the tree is not altered by drought. It is a source of calories and nutrients in times of famine.

In contrast to the sweetness of the pod pulp, dawadawa, a paste made from the seeds is savoury, smelly, high in calories, protein and other nutrients. It is used as a seasoning or in soups, keeps well, and is a life-sustaining food all year around. A dilemma is created by dawadawa preparation; the seeds must be cooked for up to 24 hours, which consumes precious firewood.
The West African locust tree provides good firewood, so essential in rural African life. The other values of the tree, its personal ownership and protective laws prevent its wholesale destruction for cooking fires.
Livestock shelters in the shade of the tree's spreading crown. Their feces and urine join the nutrients of the fallen leaves to create rich soil. Fallen leaves are also collected for garden manure.
The twigs of the tree are a natural toothbrush, as are twigs from other bat trees. Twig saponin cleans teeth and another twig component dyes the mouth red.
Native bark products are remedies for toothache and ear complaints.
Domestic animals relish whole pods, leaves and ground-up seeds.
The West African locust tree provides protection against strong winds.
The West African locust tree provides shelter and shade for human beings. Like other bat trees with spreading crowns it becomes a village palaver tree, a place to meet and exchange news, tell stories.
Because of the many gifts the West African locust tree bestows on humans, animals and its surroundings, the tree is invested with spiritual qualities. Some African Muslims believe that the West African locust tree was brought to Africa by Mohammed.

Straw-coloured flying fox
(From a photograph by Merlin D. Tuttle)

References:

Fujita, M.S. 1991. Flying Fox (Chiroptera:Pteropodidae) Pollination, Seed Dispersal, and Economic Importance: A Tabular Summary of Current Knowledge, Resource Publication No. 2, Bat Conservation International

Gould, Edwin (1978) Foraging behavior of Malaysian nectar-feeding bats. Biotropica. 10(3):184-193

Hedrick, U.P.,Editor,1972, Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World, Dover Publications, New York (Originally published in 1919.)

National Research Council (2006) Lost Crops of Africa, Volume II, Vegetables;http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309103339&page=206 Click on "Locust Bean"

Osmaston, H.A. 1965. Pollen and seed dispersal in Chlorophora excelsa and other Moraceae, and in Parkia filicoidea with special reference to the role of the fruit bat, Eidolon helvum. Comm. Forestry Rev. 44:96-103

Start, A.N. and A.G. Marshall. 1976. Nectarivorous bats as pollinators of trees in West Malaysia. Pp. 151-150 (In) Tropical Trees, (J. Burley and B.T. Styles, eds.). Linn. Soc. Symp. Series 2

Usher, George, A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man, Constable and Company Ltd, 1974

The Plant

Family: Leguminosae

Genus: Parkia

Species: Parkia filicoidea, P. javanica, P. speciosa, P. africana, P. biglobosa

The Bats

Straw-coloured flying fox (Eidolon helvum)
Dawn bat (Eonycteris spelaea)

Written by ML Alley-Crosby who thanks Merlin Tuttle, Founder and President, Bat Conservation International, for permission to use his photograph of a straw-coloured flying fox as a guide to drawing the illustration above, and to Lubee Bat Conservancy for permission to use David Liebman's photograph of a straw-coloured flying fox.

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