Common Name: White Star Apple

General Information

White star apple is an evergreen tree with a usually low-branched crown; it can grow up to 40 metres tall[]. The bole is buttressed at the base, extending into fluting, and can be up to 2 metres in diameter[]. Although the branches usually start from low down on the bole, occasional specimens have cleat boles for up to 20 metres[].
The edible fruit is commonly gathered from the wild by local peoples, who also grow it as a village fruit tree[, ]. It is often sold in local markets[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western tropical Africa from Sierra Leone, extending eastwards to central tropical Africa.

Habitat

A canopy tree in dense lowland rainforests, sometimes in gallery forest[, , ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	30.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the humid tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres[]. It grows best in areas where the mean annual temperature ranges from 18 - 28°c, but can tolerate a range of 12 - 34°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,300 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,100 - 2,800mm, and grows in both regions with a distinct dry season and regions with all year round rainfall[].
Young plants grow best in the dappled shade of the forest[]. Prefers a deep, rich loam[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A pleasant, sweet-acid flavour[]. The almost spherical fruit is slightly pointed at the tip and about 32mm in diameter[]., The fruits are the potential source of a soft drink, and can be fermented and distilled for the production of wine and spirits[].

Medicinal

The bark is used in traditional medicine[].

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[].

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.

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