Akee
Family Sapindaceae
Blighia sapida, the akee (B. sapida 1), is an evergreen tree, up to 25 m high, with pinnate leaves with 3-5 pairs of leaflets and small fragrant greenish-white flowers borne in axillary racemes. The fruit is a yellow-red capsule, 4-6 cm in diameter, splitting when ripe and exposing 3 black seeds, surrounded by a fleshy cream-coloured edible aril (B. sapida 2).
Distribution
The akee is of West African origin and was introduced into the West Indies in the last part of the 18th century.
Use
The aril is usually eaten cooked, together with salted fish it is the national dish of Jamaica. The akee is named after Captain Bligh, who took the breadfruit from Tahiti to the West Indies and who, together with 18 men, was put overboard in an open boat, during the mutiny on his ship, the H.M.S. Bounty, during the first attempt in 1789. The fruit and seeds are not edible.