Blighia
/ˈblaɪɡiə/noun
A genus of tropical trees in the soapberry family, including the ackee tree, Blighia sapida.
Did you know?Blighia was named in honor of William Bligh, whose voyage became famous through the 1789 mutiny on the Bounty; the genus includes Jamaica’s national fruit, ackee.
Etymological Timeline
18th Century
English
William Bligh
“Name of the British naval officer and later governor commemorated by the genus.”
1793
English
ackee
“The West African fruit tree was transported from Africa to Jamaica during the era of British colonial trade.”
1806
Latin
Blighia
“Botanical genus name formed from Bligh’s surname with the standard Latinized ending -ia.”
1806
Latin
Blighia sapida
“Scientific name for the ackee tree; sapida means “savory” or “tasty.””
Modern English
English
Blighia
“A recognized botanical genus of tropical soapberry-family trees, chiefly associated with ackee.”