Comb tree
Planchonella grayana

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A large tree. The crown is large and rounded. The leaves are simple and arranged in spirals at the ends of the branches. They are oval and dark green. They are 8-15 cm long by 4-7 cm wide. The tip is rounded and the base is narrowed. There are 8-11 pairs of veins. The flowers are small and white. They are 5 mm across and have 5 petals. The fruit are dull green. They are 3.5 cm long by 2.5 cm wide. They contain 5 brown seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in coastal and limestone forest.

Countries/locations it is found in

American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Niue, Pacific, Tonga, Vanuatu

How it is used for food

The very ripe fruit are occasionally eaten. They are also peeled and washed to remove the irritant and also cooked. Caution: The fruit irritate the lips.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

'ala'a, Kalaka, Qalaka

Synonyms

Lucuma vitiensis (A. Gray) Gillespie; Pouteria costata var. vitiensis (A. Gray) H. J. Lam; Pouteria costata var. vitiensis (A. Gray) Baehni; Sapota vitiensis A. Gray; Sideroxylon vitiense (A. Gray) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Drake;