Etymology | Genus | From the a Malabar common name of a plant |
---|---|---|
Species | From the Mexican common name (Cochit-zapoti) of the species | |
Family | Sapotaceae | |
Synonyms | Achradelpha mammosa (L.) O. F. Cook, Achras sapatilla J. Paul & W. Arnold, Achras zapota L. | |
Common Names | Chiku, Sauh Menila, Sapodila, Naseberry | |
Status | Exotic: Cultivated Only | |
Form | Tree | |
Native Distribution | Tropical America |
Manilkara zapota is a edible fruit tree commonly found cultivated at private estates. It is usually about 5m, though capable of reaching up to great heights of 30m tall (Wee, 2003). The foilage consists of a dense spiral arrangement of leaves. The leaves are narrowly elliptic, and have a thicken mid-vein on the underside. White sap is produced upon breakage. It flowers regularly and its brown fruits are hard to miss.
The Chiku, a common sight of private estates.
Leaves upper and underside (note the thick mid-vein).
White milky sap is exuded when the leaf is broken.
The spiral leaves are packed very densely.
Clustered leaf arrangement.
The tiny flowers (about 1.5cm long) are bell-shaped.
The Chiku fruits.