General Information

COMMON NAMES: Akee, Aki; French Aki GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE Guinea (w.Africa) COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Introduced - Recent, Not naturalised; S.Group (RR only - one tree); Land, lowlands SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Food (Fruit 1+); Poisonous to eat KEY FEATURES: Tree to 20m. LEAVES compound. LEAFLETS glossy-green; large, to 15x7cm; opposite; 3-5 pairs; oblong; short stemmed. FLOWERS small; greenish-white; fragrant. FRUIT oblong with 3 ribs; to 10cm; ripens apricot to red, splits to expose 3 seeds. SEEDS round, glossy-black; each with a white fleshy edible aril.

Cook Islands Distribution

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Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
+		-

Northern Group:
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW
-			-

Blighia sapida (K.Konig)
SYNONYMS: Cupania sapida [O]

TAXONOMY: PLANTAE; ANTHOPHYTA (=Angiospermae); MAGNOLIOPSIDA (=Dicotyledones); ROSIDAE; Sapindales; SAPINDACEAE

SIGNIFICANCE NOTES -
POSITIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Food (Fruit 1+). Comments: The creamy-white flesh AROUND the seed is edible in ripe unfallen fruit. See other notes on poisonous parts.
NEGATIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Poisonous to eat. Comments: The seed-coat and the pink structure (= raphe) around the seed, and the creamy flesh around the seed of unripe or fallen fruit, are all poisonous, causing vomiting.

Vouchers:
Rarotonga: Seed from Hawaii 1992, imported accidentally with ornamental seeds S.Carruthers (GM&FS00).

References:
p.536 Neal - In Gardens of Hawaii
p.167 Hortus 3rd
p.155 Royal Hort. Soc. Index of Garden Plants
p.455 Tropica

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD02

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