Burckella sorei

Royen

Kona

Sapotaceae Edible: Fruit

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Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Burckella sorei is a species of plant in the family Sapotaceae. It is found in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

A large tree. It grows 26 m tall. The crown in dense. The bark is scaly and cracked. The trunk can be 2 m across. The leaves are clustered towards the ends of the twigs. They are alternate and simple and have a brown tinge underneath. They are 12.5 cm long by 6 cm wide. The leaves and flowers are smaller than Burckella obovata. The flower buds are green. The fruit tend to be elongated. They are 10-15 cm long. The seeds are pointed at both ends.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or baked. The obovoid-ellipsoid fruit can be up to 75mm long and 38mm in diameter, containing a single large seed.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It occurs in the Solomon Islands in the coastal lowlands. It also occurs in Bougainville. It grows in lowland rainforest. It is rare.

Where It Grows

Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Solomon Islands,

Cultivation

It grows naturally from seed.

Other Uses

A copious white exudate (latex) flows from cuts into the trunk. The wood is orange-yellow to pink brown. A source of timber.

Also Known As

Faigona

References (4)

Foreman, D. B., 1971, A checklist of the Vascular Plants of Bougainville with Descriptions of some Common Forest Trees. Botany Bulletin No. 5. Department of Botany. p 80
French, B.R., 2010, Food Plants of Solomon Islands. A Compendium. Food Plants International Inc. p 207
Henderson, C.P. and Hancock, I.R., 1988, A Guide to the Useful Plants of Solomon Islands. Res. Dept. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Honiara, Solomon Islands, p 54
Walter, A. & Sam C., 2002, Fruits of Oceania. ACIAR Monograph No. 85. Canberra. p 122, 278