Football fruit scientifically known as Pangium edule Reinwardt is a medium to large, much branched, evergreen perennial tree which grows in tropical rain forests and secondary forests and normally prefers slightly acidic soil. It is also found along riverbanks and inundated areas and on stony and clayey soils. Fruit is normally large, sub globose to ovoid-sub pyriform (football shaped), indehiscent, rough, brown, generally 15–30 cm long, and about half as thick. Seeds are compressed ovate, greyish, 5 cm long and the hard seed coat with prominent raised nerves and embedded in creamy-white or yellowish pulp. The seeds bark and leaves are poisonous. The seeds are used to kill rats and wild chickens, and the bark and leaves are used to stun fish so they can be scooped up easily.
| Name | Football Fruit |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pangium edule Reinwardt |
| Native | Malesia, Melanesia and Micronesia |
| Common/English Name | Football Fruit, Sis Nut. |
| Name in Other Languages | Chamorro : Lasret, Raoel, Rauel; Chuukese : Durien; Dutch : Kloewak; Indonesia : Pucung, Pakem, Pucong ( Javanese ), Kapayang, Kapenceung, Kapecong, Kepayang, Simuang, Kayu Tuba Buwah ( Sumatra) , Picung, Pucung Pacung ( Sundanese ), Kluwak; Malaysia : Peyang ( Bidayuh), Kepayang, Buah Keluak, Payang, Pangi ( Malay ); Palauan : Ariaml, Riamel; Papua New Guinea : Rumrum, Suete ( Bismarck Archipelago ) Sis Nut, Solomon; Pohnpeian : Drian, Duhrien, Durien; Solomon Islands : Rawahn Falaka, Ra; Yapese: Rowa. |
| Plant Growth Habit | Medium to large, much branched, evergreen perennial tree |
| Growing Climate | Grows in tropical rain forests and secondary forests. The tree is shade loving. |
| Soil | Grows well in a slightly acidic soil. It is also found along riverbanks and inundated areas and on stony and clayey soils. |
| Plant Size | 18–40 m. |
| Leaves | Leaves spiral, clustered at twigs on long petioles at the shoot apex. Leaves are entire, broadly ovate, cordate to truncate base, 15–25 cm long, 3-lobed on young trees, acuminate, glossy green, nerves palmate. |
| Flower | Mostly unisexual; male flowers occur in racemes, to 5 cm wide; with 2–3 calyx-lobes; 5 or 6 petals with a basal scale and many stamens. Female flowers are solitary, similar to male flowers, but have no stamens but with 5–6 staminodes alternating with the petals, ovary long-ovoid, thick-walled, 1-celled with 2–4 placentae and many ovules and sessile stigma. |
| Fruit Shape & Size | Large, sub globose to ovoid-sub pyriform (football shaped), indehiscent, rough, brown, generally 15–30 cm long, and about half as thick |
| Fruit Color | Brown |
| Fruit Skin | Thick |
| Flesh Color | Creamy-white or yellowish |
| Taste | Taste like Durian fruit |
| Seed | Many seeds compressed ovate, greyish, 5 cm long, hard seed coat with prominent raised nerves |
| Major Nutrition | Total Fat (lipid) 20.2 g (57.71%) Iron, Fe 2.1 mg (26.25%) Total dietary Fiber 9.6 g (25.26%) Magnesium, Mg 97 mg (23.10%) Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 19 mg (21.11%) Protein 7.3 g (14.60%) Potassium, K 401 mg (8.53%) Phosphorus, P 30 mg (4.29%) Calcium, Ca 42 mg (4.20%) Carbohydrate 4.1 g (3.15%) |
| Calories in (100 gm) | 227 K cal |