Abiu, Yellow Star Apple
Pouteria caimito

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

Pouteria caimito or known in various common names such as Abiu and Yellow Star Apple is a tropical medium-sized tree growing about 10-15 m high and 30 cm in trunk diameter. It is cultivated for its bright yellow fruits with translucent flesh that has a jelly-like consistency and sweet flavor. When fully ripe, it is consumed raw or used in desserts and salads. The oblong to elliptic leaves are simple and arranged in alternate order. The flowers may occur singly or in clusters of two to five flowers. The crown is dense and the trunk is straight. Abiu is used medicinally for coughs, bronchitis, fever, and diarrhea. The wood is heavy and hard, moderately resistant to insect attack, and moderately durable. It is used for construction and external work. The plant is not tolerant to frost. Propagation can be through seed sowing, grafting, budding, or air layering.

Pouteria caimito is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

Height (m): 15

Where it is found

Forests, especially in areas that are seasonally flooded, and by the coast, at elevations from sea level to 1,500 metres.

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, north to the Caribbean and through C. America to Costa Rica.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Costa Rica; Panama; French Guiana; Guyana; Suriname; Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of; Bolivia, Plurinational State of; Colombia; Ecuador; Peru; Nicaragua; Trinidad and Tobago; Brazil, Amazon, Andes, Australia, Bolivia*, Brazil*, Central America, Hawaii, Nicaragua, Pacific, Panama, South America, Suriname, USA, Venezuela,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

The fully ripe fruit has a delicious flavour - it is eaten raw or used in sherbets and ice cream. It goes particularly well in fruit salads, especially if they contain orange slices to add acidity. A lovely bright yellow fruit with a whitish, translucent flesh that has a jelly-like consistency and a sweetish flavour. The fruit has a flavour somewhat like a rambutan. It is up to 10cm in diameter. Fruit that is not fully ripe can contain a milky latex that sticks to the lips. The fruit has a thin skin that bruises easily, so the fruit will not store for more than a few days.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 2

Other Uses: The wood is heavy, hard, straight-grained, of medium texture. It is moderately resistant to insect attack, and moderately durable. It is used for construction and external work.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

A tree of the hot, wet, tropical lowlands, it requires a year-round moist and warm climate. Plants are intolerant of frost. Succeeds in full sun and in dappled shade. Grows well in wet soils. Prefers an acid soil. Seedling trees take up to 8 years before they start to fruit, and some are very shy fruiters. It is therefore best to propagate vegetatively from good fruiting forms. Grafted plants can fruit in 3 - 4 years. Good forms can fruit twice a year. Mature trees may produce anywhere from 100 - 1,000 fruits a year. A large tree, it is best kept pruned to about 4 metres tall in order to make fruit harvest easier. There are some named varieties. The quality of the fruits is much higher in recent selected strains. Some forms are self-fertile, though others need cross-pollination.

Propagating it: Seed - remove it from its husk before sowing. Best sown as soon as it is ripe. Sow in a nursery seedbed in semi-shade. When sown fresh, the seed usually germinates in 4 - 6 weeks, with a reasonable percentage germinating. Side-grafting. Air-layering may be possible.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Abiero, Aguaycillo, Asepokoballi, Caimitillo, Caimo, Cauje, Coloradillo de la bajura, Ingi-oedoe, Luma, Pepeboiti, Temare, Yaas, Yellow star apple, caimito.

Synonyms

Achras caimito Ruiz & Pav. Achras guapeda Casar. Caleatia caimito (Ruiz & Pav.) Mart. ex Steud. Guap