Wingleaf soapberry
Sapindus saponaria

Family: Sapindaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 6-16 m high. The trunk is 60 cm across. The bark is grey, cracked and flaky. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. There are 5-17 narrow leaflets. They are 5-18 cm long. The flowers are white and 4 mm across. The fruit is a one seeded berry. It is 1-1.5 cm across. It has a yellow pulp that lets light through. The fruit remain on the tree after ripening. The seeds are brown.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry gravelly soil. It grows along streams. It grows between 700-1,800 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, American Samoa, Antilles, Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, Easter Island, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, French Guiana, Ghana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Honduras, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Korea, Laos, Liberia, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Africa, North America, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are boiled in water and the solution mixed with millet flour.

Edible parts

Seeds, root, leaves

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Bilo, Bo hon, Boliche, Campeche, Checo, Chereco, Chiku, Cuyas, Doye eo, Focu, Jaboncilloa, Jelen mututu ja, Jorupe, Jurupe, Kho sak, Magyi-bauk, Milno drevo, Pacon, Pohon leraj amerika, Sasabila, Tasabia, Tsaco

Synonyms

Sapindus amolli Sesse & Mocino; Sapindus drummondii Hook. & Arn.; Sapindus inaequalis DC.; Sapindus marginatus Willd.;