Family: Annonaceae
Stelechocarpus burahol, also known as burahol, kepel, kepel fruit, keppel fruit, or kepel apple, is an erect evergreen tree from the humid evergreen forests of Southeast Asia. It produces an edible fruit that is cultivated in central Java, Indonesia. There are no reports that this tree has naturalized or become invasive worldwide. Its relatively large fruit and seeds, which may limit dispersal, and long time to maturity suggest it will pose a low risk of becoming naturalized or invasive in the Hawaiian Islands or other Pacific island ecosystems.
High Risk Traits:
- Grows and could potentially spread in regions with tropical climates.
- Shade tolerant (could potentially spread into intact forest ecosystems).
- Reproduces by seeds.
- Self-fertile
- Within its native range, seeds are dispersed by civets and other fruit-eating animals, and through intentional cultivation.
- In the Hawaiian Islands, seeds could be spread by pigs, mongoose, rodents, and possibly larger game birds.
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of naturalization or invasiveness documented.
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Edible fruit
- Relatively long time to reproductive maturity (6-9 years).
- Relatively large fruit and seeds reduce the risk of long distance or accidental dispersal.
