Borbon ambarella tree
Spondias borbonica

Family: Anacardiaceae

What it is like

A large tree. It grows 24 m tall. The trunk is 70 cm across. It loses its leaves during the year. The bark is deeply furrowed. It is reddish brown and has spongy sections and red sap. The leaves are compound with leaflets along the stalk and one at the end. There are 6-8 pairs of leaflets and they are narrowly oval and 14 cm long. The base is unequal. There are slight teeth along the edge and the veins are red. The flowers are white to red and 5 mm across. They are in groups up to 18 cm long at the ends of branches. The fruit is oval and fleshy and 1.5 cm across. They are dark red to black when ripe. They have an oval stone that is white and has dense fibres. There are 1-5 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. (Trees in Florida have not flowered or produced fruit.) It suits hot tropical regions and grows up to 1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indonesia, Mauritius (country/location of origin), North America, Reunion (country/location of origin), SE Asia, USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and also by budding and grafting.

Its other names

Local names

Pohon kedondong borbon

Synonyms

Poupartia borbonica J. F. Gmel.;