Sapotillier

In Pakistan it is cultivated for its edible fruit, sapodilla plum, which when ripe is yellowish-brown, soft and sweet. The coagulated resinous latex is derived from the bark and is used commercially for making chewing gum.

Small or large tree. Leaves crowded at the end of branches, ovate-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, 2.5-3.5 x 7-12.0 cm, glabrous, subcoriaceous, midrib prominent. Flowers white, 1-1.5 cm across, long pedicelled. Sepals unequal, 3 larger than the others. Petals 6. Stamens 6, opposite the petals; staminodes as many as the petals, petaloid. Fruit usually a globose fleshy berry, 5-10 cm in diameter„ epicarp thin, rough rusty brown. Seeds 5-12, shining black, obovate, c. 2.0 cm long.

Distribution: A native of W. Indies and tropical America.

Fl. Per.: Throughout the year.