Sapotaceae

views updated May 21 2018

Sapotaceae A family of trees that have white sap. The leaves are spiral and leathery. The flowers are mostly regular with free parts, and the ovary is superior. The fruit is a berry with 1 or a few big, hard seeds. Many species yield valuable timbers, and some produce useful latex (chewing gum, gutta percha). The genera are poorly defined, but there are about 116 of them, with 1100 species, occurring in the tropics and subtropics.

Manilkara

views updated Jun 08 2018

Manilkara (family Sapotaceae) A genus of evergreen trees that includes M. zapota (or Achras zapota) which is native to S. America and is now widely cultivated. It yields the delicious, edible fruit known as zapote or, in the East, chiku. There are about 70 species, occurring throughout the tropics.