Sapotillier

The sapotillier or sapotier ( Manilkara zapota or Achras sapota ) is a Fruit tree tropical areas of America. It belongs to the family of the Sapotacées.

Origin and distribution

Originating in the the Caribbean and the Central America, it is a fruit tree which one finds in the whole of America Tropicale.

Habitat, ecology

It is a tree of the higher arborescent layer of the forest of the wet and dry areas of tropical Americas.

Botanical description

It is a tree of intermediate size which can reach 35 m in height whose trunk does not exceed 80 cm in diameter. The sheets laid out in spiral, are slightly cogged, elliptic and measure approximately 20 cm.

Fruit and uses

The sapote or sapotille is a stone-fruit with the brown pulpit and the friable skin, also called chiku in certain countries. It is consumed fresh or transformed into syrup. The savor of this fruit with maturity is very sweetened and comparable with caramel.

The tree provides a wood of high-quality used in cabinet work.

It also provides the Chicle which is a kind of white latex used formerly in the manufacture of the paste to chew.

Others

The Maya S benefitted already from the sapotillier. They manufactured, starting from latex collected, of the balls to be played.

References

ITIS 23823

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