Tortoise pear
Burckella fijiensis
Family: Sapotaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 10-20 m high. The trunk is straight. The crown is dense. The leaves are simple and alternate. They are broadly sword shaped and 14-25 cm long by 6-10 cm wide. They taper to the base and have a rounded tip. There are 9-13 pairs of leaf veins. The flowers are in a bunch at the ends of branches. There are 20-30 flowers in the group. The fruit are brown when ripe. They are 8 cm long by 6 cm wide and pear shaped. They have a thick stalk 3 cm long. There are 1 or 2 large seeds. These are 6 cm long by 5 cm wide and 3 cm deep and flattened. The fruit vary in size and taste.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. In Futuna it grows from sea level to 200 m altitude. It can grow up to 800 m. It can tolerate shade or sun.
Countries/locations it is found in
Fiji (country/location of origin), Futuna, Pacific, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Wallis & Futuna
How it is used for food
The fruit are eaten raw or roasted.
It is a cultivated plant.
Edible parts
Fruit, seeds
How it is grown
It can be grown from ripe seeds or cuttings. Cuttings are difficult to establish.
Its other names
Local names
la poire-tortue