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Pouteria caimito
| Family Name: | Sapotaceae |
| Synonyms: | Lucuma caimito, Achras caimito |
| Common Name: | Abiu, Star Apple, Caimito |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Maximum Height | 6 m to 15 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Costa Rica, Panama, Tropical South America |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Foliage | Alternate, oblong to elliptic, 10 - 20cm long and 3 - 6cm wide. |
|---|---|
| Flowers | The small, cream or off-white hermaphroditic flowers are borne either individually or in small clusters of two to five flowers. They are borne on the leaf axils on long, thin pedicels and have either four or five petals. They open in the morning and last about two days. |
| Fruit | The fruits are round to oval with a point. When ripe, they have smooth bright yellow skin and contain one to four ovate seeds. The flesh of the fruit is white and somewhat translucent. It has a creamy and jelly-like texture and is edible, tasting akin to caramel. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | This tree will grow to an average of 10m in height, but can reach 30m in the wild. Propagation/Cultivation:Propagation is by seed. Once extracted from the fruit, seeds do not remain viable for more than a couple of days and should therefore be planted as soon as possible into clean, well-drained media. It may also be grafted or budded onto seedling rootstocks and begin fruiting in 1 to 2 years.Ethnobotanical Uses:The fruit is edible and is eaten out of hand in most cases. In Colombia, it is advised to grease one's lips before eating the fruit to keep the gummy latex from sticking to one's lips. The fruit is also used in ice creams and yoghurt based desserts. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Fruit or Vegetable) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
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Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1792 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3085 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
