Description

Dwarf Golden Apple (Spondias Cytherea)

Dwarf Golden Apple trees are fast growing.  They grow best in sunny positions as too much shade affects fruit production.  They can be grown in many types of soil, succeeding very well in limestone derived soils and soils that are well drained.   The fruit can be eaten both ripe and unripe with the unripe fruit being crisp and subacid and the ripe fruit being sweet to acid and slightly turpentine.  They can be made into jams, jellies and juices.   

Medicinally, the fruits, leaves and bark are used to treat wounds, sores and burns.  Parts of the plant can be made into a fermented drink which is used to treat diarrhoea.  The juice of the plant is used as an eye drop to reduce inflammation.

Fun fact: The wood is sometimes used to make canoes in Society Islands.