Gambeya albida

Gambeya albida, commonly known as white star apple,[1] is a forest fruit tree commonly found throughout tropical Africa.[3] It is closely related to the African star apple (Gambeya africana) which is also common throughout West Africa. Some schools of thought feel that they may just be a variety of the same species. Also in the family is the purple star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito).[3]

African star apple

Gambeya albida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Sapotaceae
Genus: Gambeya
Species:
G. albida
Binomial name
Gambeya albida
Synonyms[2]
  • Achras sericea Schumach. & Thonn. (1827), nom. illeg.
  • Chrysophyllum albidum G.Don (1837)
  • Chrysophyllum henriquesii Engl. (1904)
  • Chrysophyllum kayei S.Moore (1909)
  • Chrysophyllum millenianum Engl. (1904)
  • Planchonella albida (G.Don) Baehni (1965)

Amongst the Yoruba of Nigeria, it is called Agbalumo while it is called udala (udara) in the Igbo, Udari among the Efiks of Southern Nigeria with the usage of the latter term, coincidentally, also permeating across much of south-western Nigeria (i.e.,further east of Akoko-Ondo) the northern (Hausa-Fulani) parts of the country. One local enduring sobriquet is derived from the Yoruba agbalumo, i.e., ‘agbaluma,’ and is used in certain parts of Nigeria.

The inherent sweetness of a child (or person of especially-seasoned cognisance/age who otherwise displays certain amiability-desirable characteristics representative of children and/or well-adjusted adults, e.g., well-roundedness, joviality, unassuming understanding) has been likened to the fruit in Igbo, as ‘udala nwannu.’

References
  1. Hills, R. 2019. Gambeya albida. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T61961750A61961761. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T61961750A61961761.en. Accessed on 4 December 2022.
  2. Gambeya albida (G.Don) Aubrév. & Pellegr. Plants of the World Online, Kew Science. Accessed 4 December 2022
  3. Lost Crops of Africa: Volume III: Fruits. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 2008. p. 321. doi:10.17226/11879. ISBN 978-0-309-10596-5.
  1. National Research Council. 2008. Lost Crops of Africa: Volume III: Fruits. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/11879
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