ARTICLE 22: "AGBALUMO"-Star Apple

By S. Olanrewaju Disu


The “agbalumo” fruit, also known as the “star apple”, is an annual popular fruit in Lagos State.The botanical name of the fruit is “Chrysophyllum albidum, Family Sapotaceae”.

The fruits are sub-spherical in shape, about 3cm in diameter, usually 5-celled and contain an edible, sweet fruit-pulp. When in season, it is often an item of market trade.

Women retail-traders sell the fruits both inside our markets and along our streets, especially adjacent to school-gates{school children love this fruit dearly!} and bus –stops. Young girls hawk them in large trays on top of their heads. This has to be so because the “agbalumo” fruits cannot be kept for too long after harvesting.

Medicinally, they are good remedies for sore-throat and tooth-ache. They are also useful for constipation.

Culturally, the seeds are threaded as anklets in dancing. Also, young people, especially boys, use the seeds to play a peculiar out-door game.



PHOTOGRAPHS:

A----- the “Agbalumo”—the “Star Apple” on sale at “Ogba Retail Market” in LAGOS.

B---- “ Agbalumo” seeds.