Safou.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Media

Tipo de planta

Tropical fruit tree

Luz

Full sun to partial shade

Luz en interior

Luz indirecta brillante

Riego

Cada 3 a 7 días

Tamaño adulto

10 to 40 meters

Ritmo de crecimiento

Rápido

Rusticidad

USDA 10 a 12

Floración

Late spring to early summer

Cuidados

Keep the soil consistently moist but ensure it drains well to prevent root rot. Watch for yellowing leaves which may indicate poor drainage or nutrient deficiency. Provide plenty of warmth and high humidity to mimic its native tropical habitat.

Riego

Water regularly to keep the soil moist, especially during the active growing season.

Abonado

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to support fruit production.

Poda

Prune annually to maintain shape and remove dead or crossing branches.

Trasplante

Repot young trees as they outgrow their containers, though mature trees are best planted in the ground.

Suelo

Deep, fertile, well-draining soil

pH del suelo

5.5 to 6.5

Temperatura

15 a 35°C

Humedad

60 a 90%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Baja

Longevidad

Perennial, can live for several decades.

Fragancia

Suave

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Moderada

Seguridad

Personas

The plant is generally non-toxic, though raw consumption of certain parts is not recommended.

Niños

The large seeds present a choking hazard for small children.

Alérgenos por contacto

No specific skin irritants are known.

Alérgenos en el aire

Pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals.

Comestibilidad

The fruit pulp is edible but should be prepared properly to avoid digestive discomfort.

Cómo identificarla

• Large evergreen pinnate leaves
• Elliptic blue or purple fruit
• Creamy green pulp when ripe
• Resinous bark texture
• Small yellow flowers in clusters

Altura

10 a 40m

Anchura

5 a 15m

Hojas

dark green, evergreen

Flores

yellowish white, 0,5 a 1cm

Frutos

purple, pink, Late summer to autumn

Problemas frecuentes

• Fruit rot — Fungal infections can occur in overly humid conditions.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed, cuttings

Cuándo plantar

spring, early rainy season

Cuidados en invierno

Keep in a frost free environment with consistent warmth and high humidity.

En maceta

Not suitable for long term container growth due to its massive size.

Plant this tree as a canopy layer to protect smaller shade loving crops in a tropical food forest.

Buenas compañeras

• Cacao — It provides necessary shade for young cocoa trees.
• Cafeto — It serves as an effective overstory tree in agroforestry systems.

Especies parecidas

• Canarium schweinfurthii — It shares similar ecological requirements and fruit utility.

Ciencia

Familia

Burseraceae

Género

Pachylobus

Orden

Sapindales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Tropical West and Central Africa

Conservación

This species is widely cultivated and not currently threatened in the wild.

It thrives in humid tropical rainforest environments with high rainfall.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source, fruit provides food for birds and mammals

Polinizadores

abejas, mariposas

Usos

culinary fruit, oil extraction, timber, medicinal bark

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Can I grow this in a pot?

It is generally too large for long term container growth.

How do I eat the fruit?

The fruit is typically boiled or roasted before the pulp is consumed.

De dónde viene el nombre

The genus name Pachylobus refers to the thick lobes of the fruit, while edulis correctly identifies it as edible.

Bueno saberlo

• The fruit is rich in essential fatty acids and amino acids.
• The tree is often planted as a shade tree in cocoa plantations.
• It is known by many names including Safou and Atanga.
• The wood is quite hard and used for tool handles.