Vitellaria paradoxa, also known as shea tree, shi tree or vitellaria, is a tree of the Sapotaceae family. It is the only species in the genus Vitellaria and is native to Africa. Shea fruit consists of a thin, nutritious dough that surrounds a relatively large, oil-rich seed from which shea butter is extracted. Shea tree is a tropical tree. Its length varies between 12.5 meters and 25 meters and yields fruit close to walnut. It takes 15-20 years for the tree to bear fruit. This tree lasts an average of 200 years, but the most productive years are between 25-30 years. Usually, it grows spontaneously. The fruits of the tree ripen in 4 to 6 months. A shea tree yields approximately 45 kilograms of fruit per year.