Tree Directory

Common Name

Akee Apple

Family

Strelitziaceae

Origin & Distribution

Native to West Africa, especially Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Widely cultivated in the Caribbean (notably Jamaica), Central America, and tropical America due to its edible arils. In Nigeria, it grows in home gardens, botanical gardens, and forest edges.

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Tree Code

UI-BG-TS-028

GPS Coordinates (Lat, Long)

7.456714, 3.895353

QR Code

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Description

Medium-sized, evergreen tree, 10–20 m in height; trunk up to 60 cm in diameter, straight or slightly fluted. Bark grey-brown, smooth in younger trees, becoming lightly fissured with age. Leaves pinnate with 3–5 pairs of opposite, elliptical to oblong leaflets, dark glossy green, 10–30 cm long. Flowers small, greenish-white, fragrant, borne in loose axillary or terminal panicles. Fruit is a pear-shaped capsule (7–10 cm), green when young, turning bright red or orange upon maturity; splits naturally into three lobes exposing 3–4 large, shiny black seeds each partly surrounded by a thick, fleshy, creamy-yellow aril.

Ecological Information

Prefers well-drained soils in tropical climates. Flowers attract bees and small insects for pollination. Fruits are dispersed by gravity and sometimes by birds or mammals.

Uses & Importance

Food: Ripe, cooked arils are a popular delicacy, rich in protein, fat, and vitamins; a key ingredient in Jamaican national dish "ackee and saltfish." Traditional Medicine: Decoctions from bark and leaves used locally for treating fever, dysentery, and eye infections. Timber: Moderately hard wood suitable for tool handles, light construction, and firewood. Ornamental: Grown for shade and attractive foliage and fruits.