Manilkara zapota
Manilkara
chicle tree, naseberry, sapodilla
balata tree, bullet, bully, manilkara, purgio, quinilla, sapodilla
not armed, tomentose or glabrous.
persistent, alternate;
stipules present or absent;
petiole present;
blade: base rounded to cuneate, apex retuse to acuminate, surfaces hairy or glabrous.
solitary flowers.
fascicles or solitary flowers.
10–20 mm, rufous-tomentose Flowers: sepals ovate to lanceolate, 7–10 mm, apex acute to obtuse, tomentose;
petals white, unlobed or irregularly 2–3-lobed, margins entire to irregularly 3-dentate apically, glabrous or sparsely hairy, corolla 7–11 mm, tube 4–6(–7) mm (equaling or exceeding lobes);
staminodes petaloid;
ovary hairy.
sepals 6 in 2 whorls of 3, outer valvate, darker, abaxially densely hairy;
petals 6[–9], white or yellow, glabrous or sparsely hairy, lobes undivided, shorter than or exceeding corolla tube;
stamens 6[–12], distinct [basally connate with staminodes];
staminodes [absent or 1–]6[–12], alternate with stamens, erect or incurved, petaloid, triangular-lanceolate, glabrous or hairy;
pistil 5–12[–14]-carpellate;
ovary 5–12[–14]-locular, glabrous or hairy;
placentation axile or basiventral.
ellipsoid or depressed-globose to subglobose, 35–80 mm, surface roughened, scaly;
pedicels slightly enlarged distally.
brown [yellow-green, orange, red, black, or purple], ellipsoid or depressed-globose to subglobose, glabrous.
2–10, 15–25 mm.
[1–]2–10, brown, laterally compressed;
hilum linear;
embryo vertical;
endosperm present.
= [12,] 13.
= 26.
Manilkara zapota
Manilkara
Manilkara zapota is thought to be native to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, and Nicaragua, and is widely cultivated elsewhere. In southern Florida, it is commonly cultivated and occasionally naturalized. The latex was the primary source of chicle, a major constituent of chewing gum before the substitution of synthetics. Mayans used the wood for lumber, but now the species is protected there in favor of preserving the fruits, which are highly prized.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Species ca. 65 (2 in the flora).
Species of Manilkara are used as sources of latex for nonelastic rubber. The wood is dense and hard, useful for bridge pilings (fresh water), wheel spokes, posts, railroad ties, etc. Seed extracts have been used as antihelminthics and in ophthalmics.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaf blades: apex acute to acuminate (often folded on pressed specimens); corolla tubes equaling or exceeding lobes; fruits 35-80 mm; fruiting pedicels slightly enlarged distally. | M. zapota |
1. Leaf blades: apex retuse (older leaves often split on pressed specimens); corolla tubes shorter than lobes; fruits 25-40 mm; fruiting pedicels conspicuously enlarged distally. | M. jaimiqui |
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