Chrysophyllum albidum
G. Don
White star-apple, African star apple
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Babajide Agboola, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Babajide Agboola, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Babajide Agboola, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Description
A straight tree. It grows 30-60 m tall. It has a fluted trunk and small buttresses. The crown is dense. The tree has white milky sap. The bark is thin and pale grey-brown. It has a network of zigzag cracks. The leaves are oval and 12-2 cm long. The tip is usually pointed. The under surface of the leaves is white or silvery grey. The under surface of young leaves is golden brown due to soft hairs. The midrib is sunken on the upper surface and prominent below. It has clear side veins. The leaf stalk is 3 cm long. The flowers are cream yellow. They are very small and in dense stalked clusters. They are usually in the axils of the leaves. The fruit are yellow-orange when ripe. They are rounded and 3-7 cm across. They have a sharp tip. The seeds are 2.5 cm long and brown and shiny. They are in a sweet acid edible pulp. The seeds are bean like with one sharp edge. When the fruit is cut crossways the seeds are arranged in a star shape.
Edible Uses
The ripe fruit are eaten raw, and the sweet acid pulp is used to make jams, jellies, and drinks. The seeds yield oil.
Traditional Uses
The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for jam and jellies. They are also used for drinks.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
The fruit has antioxidant benefits.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Africa. It grows in lowland rainforest. It suits humid locations. In Nigeria it grows to 1,800 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Africa, Benin, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa,
Cultivation
Plants can be grown from seed. The fruit are collected from the ground after falling and squashed and the pulp removed to get the seeds. Seeds can be stored in a cool dry place. Young plants need shade. Plants can be budded.
Propagation
Seed - takes up to six weeks to germinate. Lightly cracking the seed prior to sowing can reduce the germination time. Greenwood cuttings. Air layering. Grafting.
Other Uses
The juice of the leaves is used instead of lime juice for coagulating flake rubber. The brownish-white wood is soft, coarse and open in grain; very perishable in contact with the ground; easy to saw and plane; nails well; takes a fine polish. It is suitable for construction work, tool handles and similar purposes.
Other Information
The fruit are sold in local markets. It is an important fruit tree in Nigeria.
Notes
There are about 80 Chrysophyllum species. They are mostly in tropical America. There are 44 species in tropical America. The fruit has antioxidant benefits. The correct name may be Gambeya albida
Synonyms
Also Known As
Agbalumo, Agwaliba, An-lonko, Ehia, Fira-minike, Tegelei, Teke-kone, Tekene, Teyei, Udala nkiti, Udara
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