golden apple

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Jew-plum
• Otaheite-apple
• Polynesian-plum
• golden-apple
• witree
• yellow-plum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Spondias dulcis var. mucroniserrata
• Cytheraea dulcis
• Evia acida
• Spondias longifolia
• Spondias dulcis var. acida
• Chrysomelon pomiferum
• Spondias dulcis var. commersonii
• Spondias cytherea
• Spondias fragrans
• Spondias acida
• Evia amara var. tuberculosa
• Poupartia dulcis
• Evia dulcis
• Spondias dulcis var. integra

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and falls under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindaales, it is classified under the family Anacardiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Spondias, specifically as the species Spondias dulcis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the diverse landscapes of West Tropical Africa. Within this region, its presence is specifically noted in the nations of Benin and Guinea-Bissau. Moving eastward, its range extends into the West-Central Tropical Africa zone. In this area, it can be found growing in the Central African Republic and Cameroon. Finally, the species also inhabits the unique ecosystems of the Gulf of Guinea Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Spondias dulcis is characterized by its preference for tropical and subtropical environments, where it thrives in humid, lowland habitats. This species typically occupies coastal plains and riverine areas, favoring well-drained, alluvial, or sandy soils that are rich in organic matter. It is well-adapted to seasonal rainfall patterns, often flourishing in areas with distinct wet and dry seasons. Regarding its vertical distribution, the plant exhibits a specific elevational range, with an elevational range mean of 100 m AMSL, positioning it primarily within lowland ecosystems. It often grows in disturbed forest edges, secondary forests, and anthropogenically modified landscapes, where it can benefit from high light availability and warm ambient temperatures.

Elevational range mean:

100 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Spondias dulcis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist and thrive through multiple growing seasons over many years. As it progresses through its life cycle, the plant exhibits a deciduous habit, typically shedding its foliage during specific seasonal periods, which influences its metabolic rhythms and resource management. This long-lived nature enables the plant to establish a robust structural framework that supports continuous growth and episodic reproductive cycles throughout its extended lifespan.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Spondias dulcis is characterized by a robust, woody growth form, specifically identifying it as a tree. As a terrestrial organism, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies, functioning instead as an independent plant rather than a parasite. The species displays significant variations in stature, with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 8 m to a maximum of 40 m, maintaining a mean height of approximately 15 m. In terms of structural support, the plant is self-supporting and does not function as a climber, liana, or vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

8 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Spondias dulcis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The plant's foliar morphology is defined by elongated leaves that typically range in length from a minimum of 25 cm to a maximum of 60 cm, while the width of these leaves varies between 1.2 cm and 3.5 cm. In terms of water storage and tissue structure, the species does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a standard leaf hydration strategy rather than specialized water-storing tissues. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil rather than through symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation.

Leaf length max:

60 cm

Leaf length min:

25 cm

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Spondias dulcis is driven by biotic pollination mechanisms, primarily involving insects such as bees, which are attracted to its small, white flowers. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fleshy fruits that serve as the primary vehicle for propagation. These fruits vary in size, with a length ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10 cm. The dispersal of the species is characterized by an anthropochorous syndrome, meaning its distribution is significantly influenced by human activities.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

white

Fruit length max:

10 cm

Fruit length min:

4 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Spondias dulcis has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ALUMINUM, Ash, BORON, CALCIUM, COPPER.

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BORON

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

D-galactose

1. Dr. Duke

D-xylose

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

L-arabinose

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Spondias dulcis has 303 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, ACE-Inhibitor, Acarifuge, Acidulant, Aggregant.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aggregant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Spondias dulcis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antidiabetic.

Antidiabetic

1. Nanoscale research letters

Preparations

Spondias dulcis has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 70% ethanolic extract, sla ked lime mixtures.

70% ethanolic extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Sla ked lime mixtures

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology