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Spondias mombin

From Wikifruit.com
Yellow mombin (Spondias mombin)
Spondias mombin fruit. Scientific name Spondias mombin
Common names Yellow mombin, hog plum, Spanish plum, Jobo, cajá, taperebá
Genus Spondias
Family Anacardiaceae
Order Sapindales
Growth habit Deciduous tree with a broad spreading crown
Native range Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and tropical South America
Mature size About 10–30 m; cultivated trees are often smaller
Climate and site Humid to subhumid, frost-free tropics; terra-firma forest and fertile floodplain habitats
Propagation Seed, large mature-wood cuttings, and budding
Fruit Ovoid or ellipsoid yellow to orange drupe, about 3–4 cm long, with juicy pulp and a fibrous stone
Harvest Regionally variable; ripe fruit may occur during much of the year, with a commonly reported August–November season in some areas
Years to fruit About five years for seedlings in one institutional account; well-kept cuttings may bear earlier

Spondias mombin is a tropical fruit tree native from Mexico through Central America, the Caribbean, and tropical South America. It is called yellow mombin, hog plum, Spanish plum, Jobo, cajá, or taperebá in different regions, but several of those names also refer to other plants. The species is in the genus Spondias, family Anacardiaceae, and order Sapindales.[1][2][3]

Description[edit | edit source]

Distinctive trunk of Spondias mombin at Cairns Botanic Gardens.


Spondias mombin is a fast-growing, deciduous tree with a spreading crown. The grayish-brown bark is thick, rough, deeply grooved, and often marked by blunt, spinelike projections. Leaves are alternate and pinnate, with a long rachis and several pairs of unequal, pointed leaflets. The terminal flower panicles are branched and may carry male, female, and bisexual flowers.[3][4]

The fruit is an ovoid or ellipsoid drupe borne in clusters. It has thin skin that ripens yellow, orange, or brownish-yellow, juicy orange or yellow pulp, and a large fibrous, grooved stone enclosing several small seeds. Fruit size and flavor vary by region and selection.[4][5]

Cultivation[edit | edit source]

Soil and water[edit | edit source]

The species occurs in secondary vegetation derived from evergreen lowland or semi-deciduous forest, in terra-firma forest, and along fertile floodplains that may be waterlogged for part of the year. In cultivation, rich, moist, relatively heavy soil supports strong growth, but the planting site should still drain after ordinary irrigation and rain. Where seasonal flooding is likely, a raised berm can keep the main root zone above standing water.[4][5][6]

The tree tolerates a range of soil textures and rainfall patterns once established. A deep young taproot and a shallower surface root system in older trees mean that both deep establishment and adequate surface moisture matter. Water during flowering and fruit development can improve crop set and size, while prolonged drought is most significant for young trees and developing fruit.[4][6]

Sun and humidity[edit | edit source]

Full sun is appropriate for fruiting. Spondias mombin is associated with humid tropical climates but also occurs in seasonally drier vegetation; it grows best where warm conditions continue through the year. The species is severely damaged by freezing temperatures, so frost-free placement is essential. A broad crown can provide shade in an agroforestry or boundary planting, but the fruiting tree itself should not be kept in deep shade.[3][4]

Seasonal changes[edit | edit source]

Flowering is commonly associated with the dry season, after or around leaf flush, while ripe fruit may remain available for much of the year in some climates. Other regions have a more concentrated harvest, such as the August–November season reported for one cultivated range. Irrigation is most useful when flowering or fruit development coincides with a pronounced dry period.[4][6]

Selective pruning can control height and width, but large wounds heal poorly in the soft wood. Pruning during hot, dry weather is reported to aid wound healing. Because mature trees become large, spacing of about 7.5–9 m is used in one agroforestry account, with wider spacing appropriate where a full crown is desired.[4][6]

Propagation[edit | edit source]

Fresh seed germinates well, with an institutional account reporting emergence in about 35–75 days. Seeds have orthodox storage behavior and can be dried and stored under controlled conditions, although fresh seed is convenient when available. Seedlings develop a deep root system and grow rapidly in suitable warmth.[4][5]

Large mature-wood cuttings are also used, often about 50–100 cm long and 5–10 cm thick. Budding has been reported as another vegetative method. A seedling crop commonly begins at about five years in the cited institutional account, while well-kept cuttings may bear earlier; this is a source-specific guide rather than a fixed schedule for every planting.[4][6]

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest[edit | edit source]

Spondias mombin fruit and leaves in Maui, Hawaii.


The small white or yellowish flowers are borne in long, branched terminal panicles. Male, female, and bisexual flowers may occur on the same tree, and the flowers are visited by bees. Fruit develops in clusters of one to twenty or more and changes from green to yellow, orange, or brownish-yellow as it matures.[4][6]

Ripe fruit is often collected from the ground, but it should be gathered promptly because the thin skin breaks easily and fallen fruit can rot or be eaten by animals. Fruit quality is best when fruit is allowed to ripen or nearly ripen on the tree. The pulp is acidic and aromatic, with flavor varying considerably among regions and trees.[5][6]

Problems[edit | edit source]

Fruit flies, termites, blue-stain fungi, leaf-cutting ants, and occasional root rot are reported problems. In humid areas, disease and insect pressure can be greater than in dry-season sites. Pruning wounds should be kept small, and fallen or damaged fruit should not be left beneath the tree when rot or fruit-fly pressure is present.[4]

Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]

The pulp is eaten fresh in some regions and is also boiled, dried, or made into syrup, drinks, ice cream, jellies, and fermented products. Its mild astringency may decrease after the juice stands overnight. Unripe fruit is pickled in some cuisines. The large fibrous stone makes the fruit less convenient to eat than a smooth-seeded plum, and flavor ranges from pleasantly sweet-acid to strongly sour depending on the source.[4][5][6]

The spreading tree is also used for shade, living fences, fuel, pulp, and light timber. These non-fruit uses are separate from the crop value and can require different spacing and pruning decisions.[4]

Photos[edit | edit source]

Fruiting Spondias mombin near Fô, Burkina Faso.

References[edit | edit source]

Image credits[edit | edit source]

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