Chrysophyllum cainito
Family:
Native to:
Habitat:
Sapotaceae
Panama. Naturalized in the Central American lowlands.
Tropical woods at medium and low elevations. Up to 1560 meters above sea level. 18 meter tall tree.
Ecological value:
Adapts to almost all types of soil and in a range of climates. Medium growth rate. Drought tolerant when established. Fruit consumed by mammals such as the Kinkajau.
Material uses:
The reddish-brown wood is hard but not durable. Suitable for construction purposes, wood veneers and cabinetry. The mature branches are used as a medium to grow orchids. Good quality paper from pulp. Tannins from bark. Good fuel wood.
Edible uses:
Fruit eaten raw or as preserves. Seed kernel made into nougat. Fruit is popular: Most fruit from this genus are edible and is round and often purple skinned with a star pattern in the pulp.
Medicinal use:
Leaf infusions used to treat diabetes and articular rheumatism. The fruit also has antioxidant properties.
Other details:
The tree is hermaphroditic (self-fertile), and produces a strong scent. Also cultivated as ornamental. Blue green leaves make it an attractive ornamental. Chrysophyllum cainito belongs to a genus of 54 species found across the tropics.
Research:
Maria Camila Misle/Christine Facella
Sources:
“Chrysophyllum Cainito L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.” n.d. Plants of the World Online. Accessed November 27, 2023. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:304384-2/general-information.
“Chrysophyllum Cainito - Useful Tropical Plants.” n.d. Tropical.theferns.info. Accessed November 6, 2023. https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Chrysophyllum+cainito.
“Chrysophyllum in Flora of North America @ Efloras.org.” n.d. Www.efloras.org. Accessed November 27, 2023. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=107005.
Image sources: Hans B and Forest & Kim Starr.