Mombin
Spondias mombin
Family: Anacardiaceae
What it is like
A medium sized tree. It grows 20-30 m high. The trunk can be 0.5-2 m across. Branches start after 10-15 m. They are widespread and sparse. The leaves are compound. They have leaflets along the stalk. The leaflets are in pairs with a leaflet at the end. There are 5-9 pairs. The flowers occur on stalks near the ends of the branches. The fruit are small and yellow. They are 2.5-4 cm long. They have one large seed. The flesh is sub-acid.
It has antioxidants.
Where it is found
It is tropical. It grows in the tropical lowlands. It will grow in wet or dry zones. It grows up to 1,000 m above sea level. In Bolivia it grows where rainfall is 1,000-1,500 mm per year. It cannot tolerate frost. In Cairns Botanical Gardens. It can tolerate a range of soils.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Amazon, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Belize, Benin, Bolivia (country/location of origin), Brazil (country/location of origin), Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Congo DR, Congo R, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba (country/location of origin), Dominica, Dominican Republic (country/location of origin), Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti (country/location of origin), Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles, Liberia, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South America, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Suriname, Tahiti, Togo, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The fruit are used fresh or cooked. They are acidic. They are also used for jams, jellies and ice cream. The fruit can be dried. Because it is sour it is often sweetened and used for drinks. The unripe fruit are pickled and eaten like olives. The young leaves are cooked and eaten.
Fruit are sold in markets. It is a cultivated fruit tree. It is commonly used in West Africa. Fruit tend to be available in the drier more hungry season.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds, leaves
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. The fresh fruit can be planted whole. The flesh can be removed and the seeds dried. Seeds only store well for about 3 months. Seeds germinate in 20-40 days. It is often used as a living fence or hedge. Plants can be budded.
It is fast growing. Plants can be 3.5 m high in 2 years. Fruit weigh about 20 g.
Its other names
Local names
Abal, Abala, Acaia, Acaiba, Acaja, Acajaiba, An-lep, Atoa, Axocotl, Bafosse, Berneyu, Bijendenden, Budjabual, Bu lelu, Caia, Caja-mirim, Caja, Cajarana, Cajazeiro-miudo, Cedrillo, Ciruella amarilla, Ciruela mexicana, Echikala, Eyeye, Gajaja, Gajajeira, Gboji, Hobo, Hog-plum, Hubu, Imbuzeiro, Iweiwe, Iyeye, Jamaica-plum, Java-pumb, Jobo, Jocote, Jogo, Jogo subrure, Kadongdon china, Kadongdong chuchuk, Kadongdong sabrang, Kpaki, Lewo, Maga, Manipo, Mandiple, Mandipul, Mgba, Minkon, Mope, Mungiengie, Mungyenge, N'pela, N'pilo, Negae, Ninom-o, Nsuka kara, Nyakabu, Obo, Ogae, Pahara, Pepa de morrocoy, P'sale, Pilme, Pohon kedongdong mombin, Prunes-mombin, Sale, Same, Tapereba, Tchale, Troma, Ubos, Ugai, Umpela, Umpilo, Uposse, Usi arau, Uvuru, Yellow mombin
Synonyms
Spondias aurantiaca Schum & Thonn.; Spondias braziliensis Mart.; Spondias dubia A. Rich.; Spondias lutea L.; Spondias myrobalanus L.; Spondias nigrescens Pittier;