Spondias is a genus of approximately 18 species of flowering trees in the cashew family, Anacardiaceae, placed in the order Sapindales. The genus has a pantropical distribution, with eleven species native to the tropical Americas, six to tropical Asia, and one to Madagascar.
Members of the genus are deciduous trees that produce resinous exudates, which can cause contact dermatitis on skin contact. The leaves are imparipinnate and arranged alternately along the branches, with leaflets bearing a characteristic intramarginal vein — a vein running close and parallel to the leaf margin. One species, Spondias bipinnata, departs from the norm with bipinnate leaves. Inflorescences are produced at branch tips or in leaf axils as panicles or racemes. Most species are hermaphroditic or polygamodioecious, though S. purpurea is dioecious.
The fruit is a fleshy drupe, varying in shape from globular to elliptic or oblong, and in color from yellow and orange to red, purple, or green. A hard endocarp is surrounded by a fibrous layer — a structure that contributes to the familiar "stringy" texture of the flesh. These fruits are widely known by common names including hog plum, Spanish plum, mombin, and golden apple, reflecting both their plum-like appearance and long history of human use across the tropics.
Etymology
The genus name Spondias is classical in origin (from Greek, referring to a plum-like fruit). Regional common names reflect the genus's wide cultural reach: in Bangladesh the fruit is called Aamra, in Sri Lanka Amberella, and in Tamil Pulicha kaai ("sour fruit"). A popular theory holds that the name of Bangkok, Thailand derives from the Thai word makok nam ("water olive"), which is the local name for the fruit of Spondias dulcis.
Distribution
Spondias is a pantropical genus with the majority of its roughly 18 species concentrated in the tropical Americas (11 species), followed by tropical Asia (6 species) and a single species in Madagascar. The genus is absent from temperate regions.
Cultural Uses
Fruits of several Spondias species are important edible and street-food items across their native ranges. In Bangladesh, Aamra (S. dulcis) is a popular street food eaten with seasonings. S. pinnata is consumed across South and Southeast Asia under names including Pulicha kaai (Tamil), Amate Kaai (Kannada), Ambade (Tulu and Konkani), and Amberella (Sri Lanka). In Cambodia, two species (S. pinnata and S. dulcis) are traditional food plants with distinct local names.
Taxonomy Notes
As of January 2024, Plants of the World Online accepts 18 species in Spondias. Several former members have been transferred to related genera: S. haplophylla is now Bouea oppositifolia, S. indica is Solenocarpus indicus, and S. lakonensis is Allospondias lakonensis. The synonym Spondias cytherea is now treated as S. dulcis. The genus belongs to tribe Spondieae within Anacardiaceae.
