Ackee

Ackee in its natural habitat

The ackee,^[1] (Blighia sapida) is a fruit. It is related to the lychee and the longan. It is native to tropical West Africa. The scientific name honours Captain William Bligh who took the fruit from Jamaica to Kew Gardens, England in 1793.

The fruit was imported to Jamaica from West Africa before 1778.^[2] Since then it has become a feature of various Caribbean cuisines, and is cultivated elsewhere in the world.

Ackee Media

Ackee and saltfish, a traditional Jamaican dish
Skeletal formula of hypoglycin (hypoglycin A). Created using ACD/ChemSketch 10.0 and Inkscape.
Leaves, upper and lower surface
Flower for Ackee Plant Blighia sapida
Fruit as it splits upon ripening "smile"
Showing ripe fruit and seeds with their arils
Part of ripe fruit, two seeds with their arils still attached
Ripe seeds with their arils (dorsal view and in longitudinal section)

References

↑ also known as achee, ackee apple or ayee
↑ "This is Jamaica". National Symbols of Jamaica. Archived from the original on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-04.

[1] so known as achee, ackee apple or ayee

[jis-2] "This is Jamaica". National Symbols of Jamaica. Archived from the original on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-04.

[1]

[2]