Manilkara zapota

Appearance

Sapodilla can live up to one hundred years. It can grow to more than 30 m tall with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 m . The average height of cultivated specimens, however, is usually between 9 and 15 m with a trunk diameter not exceeding 50 cm . It is wind-resistant and the bark is rich in a white, gummy latex called chicle. The ornamental leaves are medium green and glossy. They are alternate, elliptic to ovate, 7–15 cm long, with an entire margin. The white flowers are inconspicuous and bell-like, with a six-lobed corolla. An unripe fruit has a firm outer skin and when picked, releases white chicle from its stem. A fully ripened fruit has saggy skin and does not release chicle when picked.

The fruit is a large berry, 4–8 cm in diameter. Inside, its flesh ranges from a pale yellow to an earthy brown color with a grainy texture akin to that of a well-ripened pear. Each fruit contains one to six seeds. The seeds are hard, glossy, and black, resembling beans, with a hook at one end that can catch in the throat if swallowed.


The fruit has an exceptionally sweet, malty flavor. The unripe fruit is hard to the touch and contains high amounts of saponin, which has astringent properties similar to tannin, drying out the mouth.

The trees can survive only in warm, typically tropical environments , dying easily if the temperature drops below freezing. From germination, the sapodilla tree will usually take anywhere from five to eight years to bear fruit. The sapodilla trees yield fruit twice a year, though flowering may continue year round.

Naming

Most of the common names of ''Manilkara zapota'' like "sapodilla" and "chicozapote" come from Spanish meaning "little sapote". Other common names in English for ''Manilkara zapota'' include bully tree,soapapple tree sawo, and marmalade plum.

Uses

The fruit is edible and a favorite in the tropical Americas. Chicle from the bark is used to make chewing gum.