Blighia sapida Koenig, Sapindaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate; score: 1 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Blighia sapida)

Other Latin names:  Cupania sapida Voight

Common name(s): [more details]

English: akee, akee-apple

Habit:  tree

Description:  "[Blighia sapida] attains 80' in height and has pinnately compound leaves with 6-10 oblong leafflets; racemes of small, greehish yellow flowers with linear-lanceolate petals, each with a saclike scale at the base; and 3-angled, waxy red, 3-4" long capsules that open to reveal 3 (or fewer) large seeds, each partially embedded in a whitish, fleshy aril.^893,1181" (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 517)

Habitat/ecology:  "Seasonally dry lowland woodland [307]. Forest outliers on the savannah and drier parts of forests [332]." (Useful Tropical Plants)

In cultivation: "A plant of the drier to very wet lowland tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 900 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 24 - 27°, but can tolerate 20 - 34° [418]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -3° or lower, but young plants are intolerant of any frost [418]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,000 - 4,000mm, but tolerates 700 - 6,000mm [418]. Grows best in a sunny position [307]. Prefers a moist, loamy, fertile, well-drained soil [200, 307]. Plants can succeed in a range of soils, including infertile, rocky soils [335]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.3 - 8 [418]. Established plants are drought tolerant [307]. Initial growth is fast on moderately fertile soils. Seedlings grow best in gaps in the forest canopy, with a mean annual height increment of 70cm [299]. " (Useful Tropical Plants)

Propagation:  "Plants can commence cropping when 3-4 years old from seed [335]. ... Plants flower intermittently throughout the year [307]. A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required [299]." (Useful Tropical Plants)

Seeds are sensitive to desiccation and are considered short-lived. It is recommended to sow them within a few days after extraction from the fruit. However, seeds can be kept for 3 months in moist storage at 21°. Germination starts after 2-4 weeks, with a germination rate of 80%. This species can also be propagated by greenwood cuttings, air layering, and grafting. (Useful Tropical Plants)

Native range:  "Blighia sapida K. D. Koenig, akee, is native to western tropical Africa. . . ." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 517)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  "The plant has been known to escape from cultivation when grown in sandy soils [307]." (Useful Tropical Plants)

If you know of additional impacts or invaded habitats, please let us know.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Africa Africa	Africa (central) (tropical)	native	Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) accessed 20180902
Africa Africa	Africa (west) (tropical)	native cultivated	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) noted as cultivated (but not necessarily in this geographical range): "(also cult. in tropics)"
Africa Africa	Africa (west) (tropical)	native	Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) accessed 20180902
Africa Africa	Africa (west-central) (tropical)	native cultivated	U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (year unknown) noted as cultivated (but not necessarily in this geographical range): "(also cult. in tropics)"
Caribbean Islands Caribbean Islands	Caribbean Islands	introduced cultivated	Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) accessed 20180902
Jamaica Jamaica	Jamaica (country)	invasive	Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (X)=present as a weed (but importance rank unknown)

Comments:  in Hawaii (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 517)

"Because of its poisonous nature, [Blighia sapida] should not be planted in areas where small children or pets may come into contact with it." (A Tropical Garden Flora, p. 517)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Blighia sapida, please let us know.