Aguai
Pouteria gardneriana

Family: Sapotaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 10-15 m tall. The trunk can be 150 cm across. It usually loses many leaves during the year. Young branches are hairy. The leaves can be spaced or in loose clusters. The leaves are 8-26 cm long and 2-5 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. The flowers are on thin leafless branches. The flowers are green and have a scent. The fruit are pear shaped. They are green and turn orange and are 6 cm long by 3 cm wide. There are 1-2 seeds.

There are about 150-320 Pouteria species. They grow in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows naturally in open forest and usually near sea level in Brazil.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Asia, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), India, Paraguay, Peru, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Uruguay (country/location of origin), Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

The fruit are not very popular.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They should be planted in a good composted soil.

Trees flower September to February and fruit from December to April.

Its other names

Local names

Aguai-guacu, Aguai-tanga, Guapeva, Mata-olho

Synonyms

Labatia ciliolata Engl.; Labatia lanceolata (Raunk. ex Warm.) Engl.; Labatia osteni Hassl.; Labatia sapota-anguai Rojas; Lucuma gardneriana A. De Candolle; Lucuma lanceolata Raunk. ex Warm.; Pouteria ciliolata (Engl.) Dubard; Pouteria salicifolia var. ciliolata (Engl.) Baehni; Pouteria suavis Hemsl.;