Blighia sapida
Blighia sapida
Blighia sapida, also known as the Ackee or Akee (IPA: /ˈækiː/), is a fruit-bearing tree native to tropical West Africa. The scientific name honors Captain William Bligh who took the fruit from Jamaica to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England in 1793 and introduced it to science. The common name is derived from the West African Akan akye fufo.
Etymology
The genus name, Blighia, is named after Captain William Bligh of "Mutiny on the Bounty" fame, who is credited with introducing the plant to the Western world. The species name, sapida, is a Latin word meaning 'savory' or 'pleasing to the taste'. The common name, Ackee, is derived from the original name Ankye which comes from the Twi language of Ghana.
Description
The Blighia sapida tree grows up to 10 meters tall. It has a short trunk and a dense crown. The leaves are evergreen, 15–30 centimeters long, pinnate, with 6–10 pairs of elliptical leaflets. The flowers are unisexual and fragrant. They have five petals and are greenish-white. The fruit is pear-shaped. When it ripens, it turns from green to a bright red to yellow-orange, and splits open to reveal three large, shiny black seeds, each partly surrounded by soft, creamy or spongy, white to yellow flesh — the aril.
Uses
The Blighia sapida fruit is a major food source in Jamaica, where it is cooked and used as an ingredient in the national dish, Ackee and Saltfish. However, the fruit must be fully ripe before consumption, as unripe ackee contains a poison called hypoglycin.
Related Terms
- Aril: The edible part of the ackee fruit.
- Hypoglycin: A naturally occurring amino acid found in the unripe ackee fruit that can cause Jamaican vomiting sickness.
- Ackee and Saltfish: A traditional Jamaican dish made with ackee fruit and salted cod.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Blighia sapida
- Wikipedia's article - Blighia sapida
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