Sapodilla family
Description
A large family of trees, mostly with white latex in the bark and young twigs, occurring in the lowland tropics (Sapotaceae 1).
The leaves are simple, entire, leathery; alternate or spirallly arranged. The flowers are borne in axillary inflorescences or cauliflorous, regular or irregular, fragrant, and bat-pollinated. Petals and sepals usually in 1 whorl, united at the base. The stamens are free, in two whorls of 2-5. The ovary is superior. The fruit is a berry.
There are over 100 poorly defined genera.
Use
The family yields valuable timbers, shea butter, useful latex and a number of edible fruits.
Described species
Achras zapota, chiku or sapodilla plum
Palaquium gutta, gutta percha, see Achras zapota
Calocarpum sapota, mammey sapote
Calocarpum viride, green sapote, see Calocarpum sapota
Chrysophyllum cainito, star apple, see Calocarpum sapota
Pouteria sp., yellow sapote, see Calocarpum sapota