Acoma piquant, Limoncillo
Sideroxylon persimile

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 20 m high. The trunk is sometimes fluted. The bark is dark brown to black and finely cracked and scales off in small square pieces. The tree has a dense crown. It keeps its leaves throughout the year. The leaves are dark green and glossy. They are arranged in spirals. The leaves are 5-12 cm long by 2.5-3 cm wide. They are oblong or narrowly oval. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. There are 5-10 flowers in a cluster on branches coming out from a common point. The flowers are greenish-yellow and have a scent. The fruit are 1.2-2 cm long. The fruit are purplish-black when ripe. There is one seed.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They grow in moist seasonal evergreen forest. They are common between 800-2000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hawaii, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, South America, Trinidad, USA, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten after cooking.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are usually grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Alfiler, Bebelama de la sierra, Bumelia, Corpus espina, Palo de clavo

Synonyms

Bumelia persimilis Hemsley; Lyciodes persimile (Hemsley)Kuntze; Bumelia leiogyna J.D.Smith; Bumelia pleistochasia J.D.Smith; Bumelia grisebachii Pierre; Bumelia megaphylla Blake; Bumelia guatemalensis Standley; Bumelia panamensis Standley; Bumelia barba-tigris Pittier; Bumelia lankesteri Standley; Bumelia austin-smithii Standley; Bumelia eloxochitlensis Schultes & Condatti;