African star apple
Chrysophyllum africanum

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 30 m high. The trunk is 90 cm across. The leaves are large, alternate and simple. They are 15-35 cm long by 9-13 cm wide. The flowers are small and green. The fruit is oval and 6 cm long by 5 cm wide. There are 5 seeds in each fruit. The seeds are 3 cm long by 1.5 cm wide.

There are 43 species in the American tropics and 15 in Africa.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Cabinda, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

How it is used for food

The layer around the seeds is eaten. The rest of the pulp is bitter.

It is cultivated for the fruit.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds - oil

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Abam, Akatio, Bambou, Duangulei, Ekpiro, Elinda, Ko-sin, Longhi, Malinda, Mbalambala, Mbemame, Omumu, Osan, Otien, Wondja

Synonyms

Chrysophyllum delevoyi De Wild.; Chrysophyllum edule Hoyle; Chrysophyllum macrophyllum Sabine illeg.; Gambeya africana (A. DC.) Pierre; Gambeya kali Aubrev. & Pellegr.; Planchonella africana (A. DC.) Baehni; and others