332 MANUAL OF TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



The name akee came to America from Africa along with the 

 fruit itself, and is generally used (sometimes as akee-apple) in 

 the British colonies where the tree is grown. In Spanish-speak- 

 ing countries the usual name is seso vegetal, or vegetable brains. 

 Cupania sapida, Voigt., is a botanical synonym of Blighia 

 sapida, Koen. 



In tropical America the akee is grown most commonly in the 

 hot moist lowlands. Since it has succeeded in southern Florida, 

 however, the species cannot be considered strictly tropical in 

 its requirements. When young it is susceptible to frost, but 

 plants which have attained four or five years' growth have 

 passed through temperatures of 26 above zero with very little 

 injury. Several have been grown at Miami and Palm Beach, 

 and the fruit which they have produced has been equal in every 

 respect to that grown in the tropics. No large plants are known 

 in California and it is doubtful whether the species will succeed 

 anywhere in that state. It thrives on deep loamy soils with 

 abundant moisture, but makes satisfactory (though slow) 

 growth on the shallow sandy soils of southeastern Florida. It 

 has come into bearing at Miami when about five years old. 



Propagation is usually by seed, but vegetative means should 

 prove successful. No horticultural varieties have been estab- 

 lished. 



THE MAMONCILLO 

 (Melicocca bijuga, L.) 



Unlike its oriental relatives the litchi, the longan, and the 

 rambutan, the mamoncillo is strictly an American plant. It is 

 cultivated in the West Indies and on the neighboring mainland 

 of South America, in which latter region it is considered to be 

 indigenous. In Porto Rico and Cuba it is a popular fruit among 

 the poorer classes. 



In habit and foliage the species resembles the soapberry 



