Sapotaceae FAMILY

Manilkara zapota

Edibility

5/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Older leaves contain a poisonous alkaloid[ 298 Title Edible Leaves of the Tropics Publication Author Martin. F. W.; Ruberte. R. M. & Meitzner. L. S. Publisher Echo. USA. Year 1998 ISBN 0-9653360-1-8 Description A terse guide, giving reasonable detail on the more common leaf crops and brief information on a wide range of lesser known plants. ]. Seeds contain hydrocyanic acid and should be removed before eating the fruit[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. ].

Botanical Description

Manilkara zapota is an ornamental evergreen tree with a dense, widely spreading crown that can grow 9 - 20 metres tall in cultivation, but can be 30 - 38 metres tall in the forest. The straight, cylindrical bole can range in diameter from up to 50cm in cultivation and up to 150cm in the forest[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. A tree with a wide range of local uses as a food and medicine, it is also very important commercially as the source of an edible fruit, a latex and a timber. The edible fruit is greatly enjoyed and very widely eaten in the tropics. The tree is widely cultivated commercially and in gardens in the tropics for this fruit and also for the latex contained in the sap[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. ]. This latex is coagulated and used commercially to make chewing gum. The tree yields a timber that is traded internationally.

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeC. America - Panama to Mexico.

HabitatLowland and coastal forests[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. , 307 Title Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. Publication Author Barwick. M. Publisher Thames & Hudson, London Year 2004 ISBN 0-500-51181-0 Description A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life. ].