what's frangipane? I know it's the name of a delicious cake, and a tree, but does it mean anything specific?

Question

the cake consists of puff paste, almonds, sugar and eggs and has an icing. I saw the tree in Africa (Tanzania).
If somebody can give me an explanation what this tree and the cake have in common (besides the name), I would be very grateful.

Answer 1

Frangipane (with an "e" at the end) refers to a filling made or flavored with almonds. It is a French creation. Frangipani (with an "i" on the end) is a highly fragrant flowering plant also known as plumeria. It is often used to make leis in Hawaii and is found in many tropical regions. There was a 17th century French perfume maker named Frangipani - perhaps the dish was created in his honor, but no one really knows...