Compilation
Persea americana

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Name

Identification
Persea gratissima [family LAURACEAE ] Verified by Kopp. L.E., Persea americana [family LAURACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Not on sheet.,
Related name
  • Persea drymifolia
  • Persea nubigena
  • Persea gratissima
  • Persea dinyfolia
  • Laurus indica
  • Persea americana
  • Persea floccosa
  • Laurus persea
  • Persea paucitriplinervia
Common name
  • pεa ( (GHANA, ADANGME-KROBO), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3
  • paya, pεa (FRI) (GHANA, ADANGME), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3
  • kaŋboŋi babiliŋ (Blass) (SIERRA LEONE, SISAALA), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3
  • bσlbia (FCD) bσmbia (FCD) (SIERRA LEONE, MENDE), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3
  • pia i.e., pear (FCD) (SIERRA LEONE, KRIO), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3
  • avocatier (the tree) from agucarte, or ahuaquatl (Aztec); avocat (the fruit); poire d’alligator (Berhaut)., Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3
  • avocado, avocado pear, alligator pear, mountain pear (Ghana) (Irwin)., Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3
  • pέyà (KD) yσm-puluã (?) (FCD) (SIERRA LEONE, KISSI), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3
  • pia (FCD) (SIERRA LEONE, LOKO), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3
  • am-piεr (FCD) (SIERRA LEONE, TEMNE), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3
  • pie (FCD) (SIERRA LEONE, KONO), Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3

Information

Entry for Persea americana Mill. [family LAURACEAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Burkill, H.M. 1985. The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol 3
Names
Persea americana Mill. [family LAURACEAE]
Common names
English avocado, avocado pear, alligator pear, mountain pear (Ghana) (Irwin). French avocatier (the tree) from agucarte, or ahuaquatl (Aztec); avocat (the fruit); poire d’alligator (Berhaut). SIERRA LEONE: KISSI pέyà (KD) yσm-puluã (?) (FCD) KONO pie (FCD) KRIO pia i.e., pear (FCD) LOKO pia (FCD) MENDE bσlbia (FCD) bσmbia (FCD) SISAALA kaŋboŋi babiliŋ (Blass) TEMNE am-piεr (FCD) GHANA: ADANGME paya, pεa (FRI) ADANGME-KROBO pεa (
Uses
(fruit) Food: general (leaf) Drink: infusions (leaf) Medicines: generally healing (seed) Medicines: pain-killers (leaf, bark) Medicines: pulmonary troubles (leaf, bark) Medicines: stomach troubles (leaf) Medicines: diarrhoea, dysentery (fruit-rind) Medicines: vermifuges (fruit-pulp) Medicines: genital stimulants/depressants (fruit-pulp) Medicines: menstrual cycle (leaf) Medicines: abortifacients, ecbolics Medicines: dropsy, swellings, oedema, gout (seed-coat) Medicines: brain, nervous system (leaf, bark, root) Phytochemistry: tannins, astringents (leaf, bark) Phytochemistry: hydrogen cyanide (leaf) Phytochemistry: insecticides, arachnicides (seed-coat, kernel) Phytochemistry: miscellaneously poisonous or repellent (leaf, bark, fruit-pulp) Phytochemistry: aromatic substances Agri-horticulture: ornamental, cultivated or partially tended (stem, root, seed) Agri-horticulture: biotically active (kernel) Products: dyes, stains, inks, tattoos and mordants Products: carpentry and related applications (oil) Products: household, domestic and personal items
Products
french: Poire d’alligatorenglish: Pear, Avocadofrench: Avocatenglish: Alligator pearenglish: Pear, Alligatorenglish: Avocadoenglish: Pear, Mountainportuguese: Abacateiroenglish: Avocado pearfrench: Avocatierenglish: Mountain pear
Description
A native tree of Central America where it was cultivated as a staple food by the Aztecs and Mayas of Mexico and Central America long before the Spanish explorers first saw it early in the Sixteenth Century. Then Oviedo was to list it as one of the marvels
Notes
NOTE: most of the foregoing names are corruptions of the English ‘pear’?
References
References:1. Bouquet, 1969: 144. 2. Burkill, IH, 1935: 1697–9, with references. 3. Busson, 1965: 187–9, as P. gratissima. 4. Duquénois & Schaeldealé, 1958. 5. Hartwell, 293. 6. Heal & al., 1950. 7. Irvine, 1961: 27–28, with fruit analysis. 8. Kerharo & A
Contributor
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)

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